15 January 2007

Paula Radcliffe has announced today that she will bid to win her fourth Flora London Marathon title on 13th April – which will also act as the UK Athletics trial for the Olympic Marathon places.

Radcliffe, who won the London race in 2002, 2003 and 2005, will also aim to become only the second woman to claim four victories – a feat achieved by her mentor Ingrid Kristiansen, the great Norwegian who won the London Marathon four times between 1984 and 1988.

She will also face a rematch against Ethiopian Gete Wami, who she beat in a dramatic finish to take the New York marathon last November – her first race back after having a baby last January.

Radcliffe said: “It’s great to be running the Flora London Marathon again, I love running in front of my home crowd and I know that winning a fourth time will give me just the boost I need before the Olympic Games in August. The London field is always competitive but that’s what I need to be at my best in Beijing.

 Flora London Marathon Race Director David Bedford said: “We are delighted to have Paula back in London and pleased that she has decided to race here again against such a strong field.”

“No doubt all eyes will be on Paula as she goes for her fourth victory, but the women’s race will be as tough as ever and Gete will have something to prove after losing to Paula in New York.”