Radcliffe eyes London 2012

World marathon champion Paula Radcliffe is hoping she will be able to run in not only the 2008 Olympics but also the London Games.

Radcliffe, who will be 38 in 2012, is determined to keep running so she can compete in front of a British crowd in the biggest show on earth.

She told Radio Four’s Today programme: “I’m hoping I can. I’m hoping the legs and the body will hold together long enough. I definitely don’t think I’d have the legs for a qualifying time in the 10,000m but I definitely think I can get around a marathon.

“I just would love to do that. I know London would be a great experience. We’ve seen in the London Marathon and in the Commonwealth Games in Manchester what it’s like to run a championship in front of a home crowd.”

The runner laid to rest her Athens heartaches by claiming marathon gold in the World Championships in Helsinki.

It brought to an end 12 months in which she has had to face persistent criticism for dropping out of the Olympic marathon, then doing the same in the 10,000 metres.

However. Radcliffe is more interested in meeting her own goals than in answering her detractors.

“It’s not really about that,” he said. “It’s about being very grateful and thankful that I came here healthy and fit and it’s about proving it to myself and everyone who supported me. It was hurtful last year but mainly because all my hard work and ambitions fell apart.”