MOST of the criticism of British athlete Paula Radcliffe is mean and unfair.
She obviously did her best in the marathon; she had trained hard for four years and she is obviously greatly disappointed.
She has not let down her fans on purpose. She was clearly exhausted, physically and emotionally.
The temperature was very high and to have carried on for three more miles could have made her very ill.
Paula, right, is not a robot. In sport we all have good days and bad days - that is natural. The ones to blame are the media and "expert" commentators who build up the sports men and and women to ridiculous heights then love to knock them down again.
No one in sport is guaranteed to win - not even Michael Schumacher.
David Quarrie,
Lynden Way,
York.
Updated: 09:51 Wednesday, August 25, 2004
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