The Olympic marathon is less than 4 months away and Paula Radcliffe is back training after her secret emergency hernia surgery. One of the most glamourous event to win in the Olympics is the marathon in which Paula will be a favorite; however, she will have serious challengers in the quest for the gold medal. Who do you think stands the best chance to deny Paula the gold medal in the Olympic Marathon and why could that athlete/if anyone hand Paula her first defeat in the marathon.?
Vipam
I would say that an updated drug test may be a good challenger for good old Paula.
Ndereba. 2:24 in the hills and heat of Boston is a nice dress rehearsal!
Vipam wrote:
Who do you think stands the best chance to deny Paula the gold medal in the Olympic Marathon and why could that athlete/if anyone hand Paula her first defeat in the marathon.?
I think that "Athens Summer" will defeat Paula.
Correct. It is possible for Paula to defeat Paula.
So besides the weather as everyone will be running in the same weather and Paula defeating herself, is there any other athlete that stand a chance of defeating Paula on the Athens Marathon course? I agree witht the poster that Catherine N. should go in as a solid pick to medal at the very LEAST; however, who else have a realistic chance of defeating a soon to be healthy Paula in the Olympic marathon?
Vipam
Paula Radcliffe has showed she can run a time trial in the marathon on flat courses. The Athens course will be hilly and any of the Japanese, Kenyans, the Chinese girl have a good shot of beating Paula. Unless Paula runs great in humid and hot weather she may not even medal in the Athens marathon.
Paula has won the world 1/2m titles in very hot and tough conditions in both Mexico and Portugal. She can handle the heat better than most.
I'm gonna kick her ass
Margaret Okayo has a good chance for gold
Paula should try out in the men's race. Then she'd get a race. Margaret Okayo my a**e. She needs to learn how to pace herself.
Nedereba may have had a chance, but the pasting she got at LM two years ago will still be in her mind. I take it she ran 2.24 at Boston, I haven't seen the results yet. Don't forget Paula ran 2.18 solo around London and then 2.17 in horrible weather in Chicago.
She's so far ahead its a bit like Paul Tergat racing someone like Mark Steinle or Mr Culpepper. They cannot beat Paula, they have to see if she beats herself - and what is the chance of that?!
Okayo is a real contender.
Also, do not underrate Elfenesh Alemu. She might sneak in for a medal.
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Am I living in the twilight zone? The Boston Marathon weather was terrible!
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