Nothing could have prepared Paula Radcliffe for the heartbreaking news of her daughter’s cancer diagnosis. As one of Britain’s most accomplished athletes, she has faced many challenges.
As the London Marathon returns this weekend, Paula Radcliffe – one of the greatest British long-distance runners of all time – continues to inspire generations. A former world record holder, she faced some incredible highs, and some devastating lows, over the course of her impressive career.
The resilient marathoner, 52, has gone from smashing world records and winning the London Marathon three times, to voicing the BBC’s commentary for the Paris 2024 Olympics. Now, her legacy lives on through her 18-year-old daughter, who is running the London marathon for the first time after bravely overcoming a battle with cancer.
When a doctor discovered that Isla, then 13, had a tumor growing on one of her ovaries, Paula’s entire world crashed in 2020. She and her husband, former coach Gary Lough, who they also share with son Raphael, 14, also dealt a devastating blow. The couple has raised their family in Monaco since moving to Loughborough University in 2005.
When Paula learned about Isla, she “cried,” still the British marathon record holder. Paula and her daughter, who had a rare form of malignant germ cell tumor, openly discussed the challenging relationship they faced while battling Isla’s treatment and recovery.
In a heartfelt interview with the Mirror in 2021, the former athlete opened up about the moment her daughter was diagnosed. She recalled the gut-wrenching experience, saying, “I was given the diagnosis that nobody wants to hear when the doctor said Isla had cancer. The doctor had asked Isla to sit in the waiting room before telling me what it was. I burst into tears but had to stop crying and pull myself together before Isla came back into the room a few minutes later. The doctor then explained the diagnosis to Isla.”
In addition to the unusual bleeding that occurred between periods, Paula had noticed a few months prior to the diagnosis that something was wrong with Isla’s health. Their concerns were confirmed when Paula made the decision to schedule an appointment with a pediatrician and scans at a nearby Nice confirmed this.
One in 200 000 women is affected by malignant germ cell tumors, which are uncommon. Being able to play sports after the initial shock and the medical team’s explanations were complete, Paula said. We had a treatment plan, just like the training regimens I’ve used over the years, and we could stick to it to see how things were going.
Paula, who had just lost her father Peter after he was diagnosed with cancer at the start of the lockdown, had been dealing with a particularly difficult time. The mother-of-two acknowledged that it was very difficult because losing my dad in April 2020, not through COVID, had complicated things.
However, the family has come a long way since then, and now Isla is preparing to run her first-ever London Marathon on Sunday, with her loved ones and supporters rallying behind her.
Meanwhile, Paula recently came under fire after making comments about Steven van de Velde’s Olympic selection – and wishing him luck. She argued on LBC that the volleyball player, who was imprisoned in 2016 for raping a British 12-year-old, had “served his time”, likening his story to that of drug cheats.
When asked whether Van de Velde should be banned, Paula said, “That is a very dangerous line to follow. We allow people who cheat in sport and use drugs in sport to then return and compete.” He was 19 at the time, and he has served his jail time, so it’s a long time to continue to pay for that error your entire life.
Van de Velde served only 12 months of his mandatory 4-year prison sentence. Later, Paula wrote on X: “I am mortified that I expressed it so badly and didn’t condemn the rape out loud. I regret it. I do support second chances after receiving punishment, but I think the Olympics should be for those who uphold ideals (that’s why I made a poor doping comparison).
She wrote, “I’m shocked and disappointed by how I’ve slammed this,” adding, “I really apologise for the way I posed this.” I should have clarified that the crime in my head was completely condemned, but it went without saying. Instead, I overstated why it would be great to exclude all who violate ideals but that is not legally possible.
Paula and her family travel the world by baking, going on trips, and taking pictures when not playing sports. In a 2016 article for The Telegraph, she wrote, “I’ve lived in Monte Carlo, Monaco, for more than ten years. It’s a great place to raise kids.” In my early 20s, I first traveled to the city while attending international conferences. I enjoy being close to the mountains while also experiencing the stunning blue of the Côte d’Azur sea when I wake up. You are in a beautiful city with lots to see and do, and you have the best of both worlds.
READ MORE: Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn tickets: How to buy last-minute access to live fight
Source: Mirror
Leave a Reply