The British long distance runner made a triumphant comeback to competitive running with victory in the New York Marathon in November 2004, just 11 weeks after she dramatically dropped out of the Olympic Marathon and then the 10,000 metres in mid-race in Athens.
In total contrast in New York, Radcliffe, then 30, kept going to the end and produced a final sprint to beat Kenya’s Susan Chepkemei in the closest finish in the race's history.
In Athens she had pulled up exhausted and distraught after 22 miles of the Olympic Marathon, then days later also dropped out of the 10,000 metres with eight laps to go after a late decision to compete. It meant Radcliffe, one of the world’s dominant long distance runners, has now not won a medal in three Olympics.
Many thought that Radcliffe had made a mistake to run in New York so soon after Athens, but the cooler conditions helped and her old fighting spirit returned. After the race she said: "It won't wipe out what happened in Athens. Nothing will ever make up for that. But I'm moving on with my life, and this win is a good way to start."
