LONDON, England, December 6 – Paula Radcliffe became only the third British track and field athlete to be selected for five Olympics after her place in Team GB for London 2012 was confirmed Tuesday.
Radcliffe, 37, has been selected for the marathon along with Scott Overall and Mara Yamauchi to compete for Team GB in the marathon event at the London Games.
The trio are the first individuals to be selected from the sport of athletics – 11 sailors and five boxers have also been named.
Radcliffe said: “To represent your country at a home Olympics is something special and I’m over the moon to be selected for Team GB.
“I was pleased to get the qualifying time in Berlin earlier this year and my sole focus is getting in the right shape for London. I’m just fully concentrating on being fully prepared for next year.”
Last month Radcliffe received a boost when she was reinstated as the holder of the women’s world marathon record at two hours 15 minutes and 25 seconds, overturning a controversial decision by the IAAF not recognise the time as such.
She had originally set the time in winning the 2003 London Marathon.
Radcliffe joins javelin thrower Tessa Sanderson and race walker Chris Maddocks as the third British athletics competitor to be selected for five Olympics.
Andy Hunt, BOA chief executive and chef de mission of Team GB, said: “Achieving Team GB selection to five consecutive Olympic Games is a remarkable feat and Paula Radcliffe is a truly special British athlete.”
