Radcliffe aware of O'Sullivan threat
England's Paula Radcliffe chases a second major gold in nine days as she bids to add the European 10,000 metres crown to her Commonwealth 5,000m title tonight.
Radcliffe is looking to wipe out the distant, but haunting, memory of four years ago when, in only her second race over 25 laps, she finished a disappointing fifth in Budapest.
Radcliffe is enjoying a fantastic year after not only breaking a Commonwealth record in Manchester, but also winning the world cross country and Flora London Marathon.
But with Sonia O’Sullivan defending her title and aiming to repeat her 1998 double later in the week by running in the 5000m, Radcliffe is taking nothing for granted.
Radcliffe, who is also wary of 1996 Olympic gold medallist Fernanda Ribeiro of Portugal, said: ‘‘Obviously people in the race have different strengths. Sonia is running well. The same for Ribeiro, although we have not seen her race this year.
‘‘If she is in shape, she will be dangerous as well. There are also other athletes around. But Sonia and Fernanda, I think, will be the main ones. I have total respect for both.’’
