Radcliffe at the 2008 New York City Marathon
There have been rumors swirling that Paula Radcliffe’s Olympic hopes were fading due to a painful foot injury.
I have long been a fan of Radcliffe, and I must admit, I’ve been clinging to the hope that this lioness of the sport would finally get her chance for Olympic glory.
Alas, this was not to be. Announcing her withdrawal from the games, Radcliffe released a statement on Monday that was as classy as the woman herself.
Jenny Simpson winning the 1500World Championship in 2011 (Photo by Victah Sailor/PhotoRun.net)
We at the Sacramento Running News have long enjoyed an appreciation for 1500 meter world champion Jenny (Barringer) Simpson. The expression on Simpson’s face as she crossed the finish line in Daegu and won the 2011 World Championship stands out in my mind as one of the great images from the sport.
Her expression was a deer in the headlight look of amazement and delight.
Simpson’s post race interviews showed her to be charming and gracious–something this sport needs–showing humility and heaping praise on all the people who had helped her get to that podium.
It was a glorious time for the sport, and for American running, as Joan Benoit ran away with a dominating win at the first women’s Olympic marathon. Her race that day in Los Angeles remains a thing of beauty and inspiration.
In case you don’t know, Joan Benoit Samuelson ran in the 2008 Olympic Marathon Trials as a 50-year-old and finished in 2:49:08. (Coincidentally, she finished a few seconds behind local runner Midori Sperandeo, which gave Midori a lot of t.v. time.)
Enjoy!
