Paula Radcliffe speaks about the Paris 2024 Olympics and why Strictly Come Dancing would be her “worst nightmare”Get 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 NoticeFrom smashing world records on the streets of London’s famous marathon to being crowned world champion, Paula Radcliffe is one of Britain’s most successful athletes. Yet, despite winning so many long-distance races, she says for all the career highs and lows – including her infamous roadside toilet stop at the London Marathon 19 years ago – she doesn’t know how she would have done it without the support of her husband Gary Lough. As the Olympic Games gets underway on Friday (26 July) in Paris, Paula, 50, who has been married to Gary for 23 years, says, “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.” Gary has been her constant supporter, but Paula confides that the couple, who live in Monaco with their children, Isla, 17, and Raphael, 13, faced their biggest challenge off the track. Four years ago, Isla was diagnosed with a rare germ cell cancer, leaving them all devastated. Fortunately, there was a good prognosis and, after chemotherapy and surgery, Isla was successfully cured. But today, as she reflects on her daughter’s ordeal, Paula admits it was much more challenging than competing in the Olympics, or indeed, any marathon.
Paula Radcliffe will be hosting the BBC’s coverage of The 2024 Olympics
(Image: STADION-ACTU/SIPA/REX/Shutterstock)
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 says. “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.” This week, Isla will be joining Paula at the Olympics as a volunteer alongside Gary, who is coaching several athletes. Paula smiles as she admits she can’t wait for the event to start and to take up her place in the BBC athletics commentating team, which she has been doing since her retirement in 2015. “There is something very special about the Olympics,” she says. “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.” Singling out the men’s British 1500m superstar, Josh Kerr, and women’s 800m Keely Hodgkinson as potential medal winners on the running track, she predicts this year’s games will be as thrilling as London 2012. “We all remember how amazing London was in 2012 and Paris isn’t that far away now,” she says. “You can really feel the anticipation building up now in France and I have got a lot of confidence Paris will be brilliant. This year, the men’s 1500m must be right up there and the women’s 800m with Josh and Keely.”
Paula will be joined at the Olympics by her daughter Isla, who is volunteering this year
(Image: Getty Images)
So does she feel at all envious of them competing? “If my body could still be doing it, I’d love to still be able to give it a go,” she says. Paula, who was awarded an MBE in 2002, smiles as she reveals she finds numbers easier to remember than names when working as a TV commentator. Asked if she has ever had any embarrassing on-air moments, she roars with laughter as she reveals she once started talking in French in her early days. “I was talking about one of the French runners,” she recalls. “Everyone was just looking at me. I can speak French because of living in Monaco, but I never thought that would happen.” Always keen to share her knowledge and expertise with viewers, she gets embarrassed, however, when she is called a sporting legend. “Oh no, I don’t think it relates to me,” she says. “For me, it’s important for everyone to just do the best they can. Success is about enjoying everything you can each day.” Beating the world record at the 2003 London Marathon will forever be Paula’s career high. She is also proud she is able to combine her love of the sport with her work now for the BBC. But would she ever consider moving across to the TV entertainment world? “No way!” she says. “Doing Strictly Come Dancing would be my worst nightmare. I know some athletes are good but I totally wouldn’t be.”
Paula admits that taking part in Strictly Come Dancing would be her “worst nightmare”
(Image: Getty Images)
Laughing as she makes this admission, she paints a picture of a happy life away from the cameras with Gary and their children. Not only do they live in one of the most glamorous locations in the world, they enjoy a very active lifestyle, whether that is running in the mountains or kayaking in the sea. “No, we have no plans at the moment to move back to Britain,” she says. “Yes, I’ve got family in the UK and I come back for events, but we’ve got lots of friends there now. That’s important.” On her bucket list are two more races. “I want to finish the six marathon majors and I’m looking to run Tokyo and Boston,” adds Paula. “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! MagazineFacebookTwitterComment
