Paula Radcliffe named to Team GB, chases first Olympic medal

The 38 year old is still chasing the elusive Olympics medal. While no one can fault her attention to detail, discipline, preparation and training, it is the tactics and the best peaked athlete who wins on the day. Lasse Viren was the prime example of this. He won gold in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters of both the 1972 AND 1976 Olympics, but rarely won races in between and was beaten on many occasions. He did not let those "defeats" get to him- his races revolved around peaking specifically for his chosen events. It is said that he wasn't t necessarily the fittest, but the best prepared. Paula, you have my full support and you are one of my favourite female athletes of all time. I truly hope you get a medal in your home country next year. Take a cue from Lasse Viren's preparations!!!

Paula was named to the British Olympic team on Tuesday. This will be her 5th Olympics. She already has 2 children. Her past results include 4th in the 10,000 meters at the 2000 Sydney Games and 5th in the 5,000 meters at the 1996 Atlanta Games.

In Athens 2004, she ran the marathon and had to retire at around the 37km mark due to a stomach ailment/ bug in 2004. In the most recent one in Beijing, she finished a devastating 23rd, all these results despite setting the fastest marathon times ever: 2:15.25 in London in 2003, 2:17.18 in Chicago in 2002 and 2:17.42 in London in 2005, not to mention winning the London Marathon 3 times.

Train hard AND smart, Paula.... take care.