Paula Radcliffe

I'm not meek at all.

In my Olympic history I don't think I have achieved my potential as an athlete. That's what I want when I look back at my career. I want to be able to say I gave it my best shot.

I deliberately returned slowly to training after Raphael was born and everything, apart from being bitten by a dog whilst out training in Monaco at the beginning of the year, has gone pretty well.

A jackass can kick a barn down, but it takes a carpenter to build one.

As a rule, there is no surer way to the dislike of men than to behave well where they have behaved badly.

I studied international relations and economics at the University of Virginia. I paid my way by working as a bartender in the summer and at three part-time jobs during the year.