女子马拉松世界记录保持者保拉·雷德克里夫日前表示她希望参加北京2008年奥运会的比赛，并希望能一直跑到2012年奥运会。这位英国人的长跑骄傲，在今年的雅典奥运会上先后退出了马拉松和一万米的比赛，并因此在国内饱受指责。

Marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe, [color="#808000"]undaunted[/color] by her disastrous showing at the Athens Olympics, hopes to run in Beijing in four years and possibly even at the 2012 Games.

Briton Radcliffe, 30, pulled out of the marathon and 10,000 metres in Athens in August and was subjected to a storm of criticism in the media.

"It was never a case of if I get what I want in Athens I will back off," Radcliffe was quoted as saying in the UK's Daily Mail newspaper.

"I always wanted another Games. I hope to make 2012 too, maybe not at the same level but I hope to make the team," added Radcliffe, who is an ambassador for London's bid to host those Olympics.

In Athens, Radcliffe broke down in tears six kilometres from the end of a marathon she was favourite to win before failing to finish the 10,000 metres five days later.

As Radcliffe had just slipped to fourth in the marathon when she slumped out, the suggestion was made in the media that she had stopped after realising she would not win a medal.

She later said she had been struggling with a stomach injury and described her experiences in Greece as the most [color="#808000"]traumatic[/color] of her life.

"Underneath it all, it has made me more determined to come back and show what I can do," she told the paper.

"I've had a lot of criticism for not slowing down and continuing but I don't think I could have carried on whatever the pace.

"I like to think the critics won't change me but probably you grow a more protective shell around yourself."