Olympic athlete Paula Radcliffe has delivered an update on her daughter’s cancer ordealGet daily celeb exclusives and behind the scenes house tours direct to your inboxMore Newsletters SubscribePlease enter a valid emailSomething went wrong, please try again later.More NewslettersWe use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More infoThank you for subscribing!We have more newslettersShow me See OurPrivacy Notice See OurPrivacy Notice×Group 28 Get daily celeb exclusives and behind the scenes house tours direct to your inboxInvalid emailSomething went wrong, please try again later.Sign UpNo thanks, closeWe use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info×Group 28Thank you for subscribing!We have more newslettersShow MeNo thanks, closeSee our
Privacy NoticePaula Radcliffe has opened up about her daughter Isla’s ordeal with a rare form of cancer and how the now-17 year old is following in her mother’s footsteps. The Olympic athlete, 50, is best known as one of Britain’s most successful sportspeople – and now she will be commentating for the BBC during the Paris 2024 Olympics. Meanwhile, her daughter Isla, 17, will be working as a volunteer after beating cancer. Four years ago, she was diagnosed with a rare germ cell cancer and after chemotherapy and surgery, she was cured. Reflecting on her daughter’s ordeal, Paula told OK! that it was much more challenging than competing in the Olympics.
Paula Radcliff with her family, including daughter Isla, 17, who has been cured of rare germ cell cancer
(Image: Getty Images)
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““Obviously it was for Isla but also the whole family,” she said. “You learn though what is important in life and it puts everything into perspective. We were very fortunate as we had a good prognosis, but it really makes you learn how to take everything step by step, trust the process – and the amazing doctors.” In Paris, Isla will be joined by her father Gary Lough, who has been married to Paula for 23 years and with whom she also shares son Raphael, 13. “There is something very special about the Olympics,” she said. “It’s the pinnacle for any athlete and all athletes want to be at the top of their game. Representing your country is such a privilege and as a commentator, we are so lucky as we have got the best seat in the house. We all get on brilliantly – it’s like working with friends.”
Paula will be joined at the Olympics by her daughter Isla, who is volunteering this year
(Image: Getty Images)
While Paula has achieved many athletic feats across her career, she admitted that she could not have done it without the support of Gary. “When I look back and think, ‘Would I do my career again?’ – had I not had my family with me for a big bulk of it, it would have made it so much harder. This is because [him being there] made it easy to be doing what I loved doing without having to make a sacrifice and being away from family.” Before hanging up her trainers, Paula has two more races on her bucket list. “I want to finish the six marathon majors and I’m looking to run Tokyo and Boston,” she said. “For the first time, it looks like this will be possible next year. But it’s just to finish them – and certainly not in any time! Olympics: Paris 2024 begin on Saturday 27th July across BBC One, BBC Two, BBC iPlayer, BBC 5Live, BBC Sounds and on the BBC Sport website and app.Story SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnPaula Radcliffe
