Radcliffe praises athletics for going the distance to change
Legend lauds world bodies for ‘listening to the voice of athletes’
Great Britain’s Paula Radcliffe, former world champion in the marathon, half marathon and cross country, has insisted athletics has taken the right direction in listening to athletes’ before postponing the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Radcliffe, who was held women’s marathon world record with a time of 2:15.25 for more than 16 years (from 2003 to 2019) until it was broken by Brigid Kosgei, admitted that her sport has taken a different direction in the recent past during the coronavirus pandemic.
Right thing to do
“The IOC [International Olympic Committee] was probably one of the worst when it came to listening to athletes’ voices. They were among the worst when it came to considering the athletes as one of the most important stakeholders in the sport,” Radcliffe said in the opening episode of Right Formula’s ‘The Winning Formula’ conducted by former Dubai resident Ben Nichols — a one-time Director of Communications and Public Affairs at the Commonwealth Games Federation.
“But, it is good that they [the IOC and World Athletics] are finally listening. It is good that with this whole coronavirus situation, things have worked out the way they should. It was very difficult for any governing body and even governments to react in the right way. We are very much still learning and finding the best way in handling this unprecedented situation,” Radcliffe added.
“We had to put the health of so many people all across the globe in front of anything sporting or any individual’s goals and aims for this year,” she said.
Radcliffe held women’s marathon world record with a time of 2:15.25 for more than 16 years until it was broken by Kosgei