Tears as Radcliffe Olympic hopes shattered

Paula Radcliffe Olympic gold dream lay in tatters tonight as the Athens heat took its toll and she had to pull out of the women’s marathon at the 36km mark.

Radcliffe suffered the agony of a fourth place finish over 10000metres in Sydney four years ago.

And the 30-year-old marathon world record holder could not banish those bitter memories as she toiled in vain to cope with the scorching conditions.

World record holder Radcliffe,30, who started favourite to win the gold medal on the punishing 26 miles 385 yards (42.195km) course, could not respond when Japan’s Mizuki Noguchi broke away at the 25k stage.

And 11k later she had to give up the fight and was reduced tears as her Olympic gold dreams ended in agony.