Until her life was transformed in 2002 by a series of phenomenal performances on the road, across country and finally on the track, Paula Radcliffe appeared permanently cast as a gallant loser.

Radcliffe had become a familiar figure at major championships, leading successive posses of Africans into the final lap of the 10,000 metres. Invariably one or more of her pursuers would then float past and the 30-year-old Briton would be left once again to make do with a minor medal at best.

The 2001 Edmonton world championships proved a nadir. Once again Radcliffe was in front at the bell only for Olympic champion Derartu Tulu to ease past and head a trio of Ethiopians to the line.

For once the British team captain lost her composure in a brief but angry exchange of words with her husband and trainer Gary Lough at trackside.

Two days later Radcliffe was again in the headlines, this time not only in the British papers.

Radcliffe and team mate Hayley Tullett were involved in a tussle with security guards after they held up a hand-drawn sign proclaiming "EPO cheats out" as the runners lined up for the women's 5,000 metres heats.

Their target was Russian Olga Yegerova who had been banned then reinstated after a positive test for the blood boosting drug erythropoietin.

UNREPENTANT

The British pair were ordered to take down their sign but Radcliffe was unrepentant, arguing that EPO could not have appeared in Yegerova's system unless it had been deliberately injected.

At the end of a depressing year Radcliffe made the decision to move up to the marathon. The results were astonishing.

She retained the world cross country long course title then made her marathon debut in the prestigious London event, clocking two hours 18 minutes 56 seconds, more than four minutes faster than the previous fastest women's debutant.

On the track she won the European and Commonwealth 10,000 metres titles and went on to break the world marathon record in Chicago with a time of 2:17:18.

Last year began just as brightly. After setting a world record 30:21 in a 10 kms road race in San Juan, Radcliffe reduced her marathon record to 2:15:25 in London after another mesmerising solo run.

At last that elusive world track title appeared hers for the taking at the Paris world championships before she was forced to withdraw through illness and injury.

Now the Athens Olympics beckon an Englishwoman whose charm and modesty belie her steely determination. She also possesses a first class honours degree in European studies and is fluent in French and German.

Radcliffe has an awesome work ethic and not the least of her achievements has been to prove that not only Africans possess the necessary physical toughness to win major long-distance races.

Radcliffe has opted to run the marathon in Athens, partly because of the attraction of running over the original route but mainly because it represents her best chance of the Olympic title she needs to confirm her place among the long distance greats.

"I think about the Olympics," Radcliffe said recently. "I often visualise parts of the Olympic marathon during my training sessions.

"I want to go to Athens in the sort of shape I was in for the marathons in Chicago and London, I've been working towards it for years and I want to win it."