Paula Radcliffe’s coach, Alec, always stressed that sport wasn’t like any other career. He insisted that athletes needed a plan for life after competition. Radcliffe had one, but who would have guessed that, after a decade away, she’d be making a stunning return to the track? Despite effectively running for 18 years with a broken bone in her left foot, Radcliffe carved out a legendary career. She was the world marathon champion in 2005, 2x world cross-country titleholder, and in the marathon world. Now, with Tokyo recently added as a major marathon event, Radcliffe felt compelled to be there. Maybe she has some unfinished business?

The former World record holder ran her last competitive marathon in 2015, finishing the London Marathon in an impressive 2:36:55. Now, at 51, she’s back on the course, defying expectations again. On Sunday, she completed the Tokyo Marathon in 2:57:26, which was her first competitive marathon in a decade. Once the world record holder for an astonishing 16 years (from 2003 to 2019) with a blistering time of 2:15:25, Radcliffe’s influence on the sport remains undeniable.

Even in Tokyo, her former world record stood faster than the 2:16:31 winning time set by Ethiopia’s Sutume Asefa Kebede. “It was tough,” Radcliffe admitted after the race. “I suffered stomach cramps in the last five or six miles, but that has happened before—it was only my body telling me I was hurting it.” It wasn’t the first time Radcliffe had pushed past discomfort to accomplish something remarkable.

Ask any long-time marathon fan about 51-year-old Radcliffe, and one particular moment might come up. Yes, the 2005 London Marathon. Mid-race, in desperate need of a toilet break and with no facilities nearby, she did what she had to do, that too, on the roadside, in full view of live TV cameras. The incident made headlines worldwide, but what’s often overlooked is that she still went on to win the race in 2:17:42, setting a world-best time for a women-only marathon at the time.

Beyond that infamous moment, Radcliffe’s résumé is filled with achievements. Between 2002 and 2008, she won three London Marathons (2002, 2003, 2005), three New York City Marathons (2004, 2007, 2008), the Chicago Marathon (2002), and the World Marathon Championship (2005). She also represented Great Britain in four consecutive Olympics (1996, 2000, 2004, 2008) and earned an MBE in 2002—the same year she was crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

Despite all her victories, injuries, especially recurring foot and Achilles tendon problems, have marred Paula Radcliffe’s career. These afflicted her so much that they compelled her to pull out of the 2012 Olympics, a devastating setback that made her think of retiring. “Targets have gone out of the window,” she confessed at the time. I’m strongly in that place where I know and realize that realistically it might not be possible.” And yet, here she is, disproving herself once again.

Her legacy solidifies itself in the history of running, both on and off the course. Now, after breaking her decade-long drought at the marathon, Radcliffe has proved to the world that some champions never really stop running. Aside from her remarkable career, Radcliffe has continued to be involved in sports advocacy. She has even been a guest on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? and is still an ardent supporter of clean sport.

Paula Radcliffe’s journey from athlete to clean air advocate

Doctors diagnosed Paula Radcliffe with asthma at age 14 after she experienced dizziness and breathlessness following training. Luckily, her family physician was progressive, arming her with inhalers and educating her on how to keep her condition in check.

The impact was life-changing. Learning to control her asthma eliminated much of the uncertainty and anxiety that had hindered her, allowing her to train and compete at the highest level. It also heightened her awareness of air quality and its effects on performance. As her career progressed, her approach to air-quality monitoring became increasingly sophisticated. With the help of sports science teams, she analyzed specific pollen types that could trigger her asthma, adjusting her training locations accordingly to optimize her performance.

Radcliffe’s enthusiasm for clean air campaigning saw her collaborating with Asthma UK, a charity to which she has donated since 1998 based on personal reasons. She was subsequently approached by the IAAF (now World Athletics) to become an ambassador for their clean air movement, ensuring that she further solidified her position as a prominent advocate for air awareness. Radcliffe’s first-hand knowledge of the impact of air pollution on the human body qualifies her to be a good campaigner. “Having experienced first-hand the impact that air pollution has on the human body as a world-class athlete, Paula is a perfect person to spread the message far and wide,” said Erik Solheim, former Head of UN Environment.

Paula Radcliffe’s legacy extends beyond her remarkable achievements as a world-class marathoner. While she remains an icon in distance running, her work as a clean air advocate highlights her commitment to a cause that affects millions worldwide. Through her advocacy, she continues to push for better air quality standards, ensuring that future generations—athletes and non-athletes alike—can breathe cleaner, healthier air.