Olympics: Paula Radcliffe insists she will still compete in the women's marathon at the Olympic Games even if there is a chance she could break down with injury.
Four years ago in Athens Radcliffe began her bid for the one title that has eluded her throughout a glittering distance-running career carrying a leg injury and was subsequently forced to retire from the race with a stomach complaint caused by anti-inflammatories she was taking.
Her decision was praised and vilified in equal measure, and now she is approaching the 2008 edition under an injury cloud after an MRI scan in May revealed a stress fracture in her left thigh.
The 34-year-old, however, has made an impressive recovery, although she has been restricted mostly to pool and treadmill work. It means she has yet to extensively test her injured leg on tarmac having undertaken only a small amount of outdoor running.
Radcliffe reiterated today she is intent on reaching the start line even if her ability to finish the 26-mile, 385-yard course is unclear beforehand, despite UK Athletics performance director Dave Collins' insistence yesterday that it would come down to a joint decision between a number of parties.
Asked what would drive her if she still has fitness doubts, she said: "The determination to find out.
"I'm racing unless my leg breaks down and I can't run. That's it. It's already made," she said when confirming she would run on August 17th. "It's just the fact that because I've not been running huge amounts at full body weight outside on it, they (Team GB) don't know whether it will get me there.
"The only decision that would be made would be made for me - and I don't want to think about that."
While the 34-year-old may have defied expert opinion that it would be impossible for her to be fit in time for the Games, Radcliffe admits she is unsure over her medal prospects but draws inspiration from a similar scenario six years ago before she went on to win her first London Marathon.
"This time I think I've had the worst period of stress and now it's just 'get on and enjoy it'," she said. "I'm actually thinking it's going to be more like the 2002 London Marathon when I had the nightmare with my knee three weeks before and didn't even know ifI'd be ready to start that race.
"When I got to London I was just really happy to be there and ran really well so I'm hoping this is going to work that way."