Paula Radcliffe's Comeback: Marathon Legend Returns to Competition at 51

Marathon Icon Paula Radcliffe Returns to Racing

Former world record holder Paula Radcliffe marked a significant moment in her sporting career by participating in the Tokyo Marathon, her first competitive marathon in ten years. At the age of 51, Radcliffe completed the race in two hours, 57 minutes, and 26 seconds. This event comes a decade after she concluded her illustrious athletics career at the 2015 London Marathon.

A Legacy That Endures

Radcliffe's impact on marathon running is undisputed. She held the world record for 16 years, from 2003, with an astonishing time of two hours, 15 minutes, and 25 seconds—a record that stood until Kenya's Brigid Kosgei surpassed it in 2019. Remarkably, her former record still outpaces the recent Tokyo Marathon winner, Ethiopia's Sutume Asefa Kebede, who finished this year's race in 2:16:31.

Tokyo Marathon Highlights

The women's race saw Kenya's Winfridah Moraa Moseti secure second place with a time of 2:16:56, followed by Ethiopia's Hawi Feysa in third at 2:17:00. The men's race was equally competitive, with Ethiopia's Tadese Takele claiming victory in 2:03:23, marking his first major marathon title. Ethiopia's Deresa Geleta and Kenya's Vincent Kipkemoi Ngetich took second and third places, respectively.

Looking Ahead: Boston Marathon

Radcliffe is not stopping here. She has set her sights on next month's Boston Marathon, aiming to complete all six of the world's major marathons. Reflecting on her goals, Radcliffe shared with Athletics Weekly: "I turned 50 last year, am now 51, and thinking about the goals I've got left, one of those was always to tick off the six marathon majors. For most of my career, it was five, and then Tokyo was added so I never really had the opportunity to race there. And Boston I never did because it was so close to London."

The Six Major Marathons

In addition to London, Boston, and Tokyo, the prestigious list includes Berlin, Chicago, and New York. Radcliffe's participation signifies not just a personal milestone but a source of inspiration for athletes and fans worldwide, proving that age is no barrier to passion and excellence in sports.