Crocked Paula's Olympics Sweat

May 18 2008 By Iain Hammill

JINXED Paula Radcliffe is a doubt for the Beijing Olympics after suffering another injury setback.

The runner has pulled a muscle in her hip and is hobbling around on crutches.

British gold medal hope Radcliffe has just recently recovered from a toe problem and this is another blow to her preparations for a tilt at the marathon in China.

But last night the world record holder was upbeat about her chances of making it to the starting tape in August.

Radcliffe - who is determined to make up for failing to finish the marathon at the 2004 Athens Games - said: "The Olympics are extremely important to me.

"Little setbacks like this only strengthen my resolve to be there in my best shape."

Bedford star Radcliffe, 34, developed a pain in her left hip two weeks ago but an MRI scan failed to identify the problem.

A second scan revealed a muscle pull and Radcliffe is on crutches to aid the healing process by taking weight off the injury.

She's hopeful of getting the all-clear to resume full training in a week.

Despite her confidence Radcliffe has already had her training interrupted by a toe injury that emerged when she finished runner-up in last September's Great North Run - her first race for 20 months.

Radcliffe defied the pain to go on to win the New York marathon for a second time in November.

But the injury flared up again while she was altitude training in America in February and forced her to miss the chance to earn a fourth London marathon title a month ago.

And with the women's marathon in China's capital 92 days away some believe her Olympics dreams are doomed.

London marathon director David Bedford insists if Radcliffe can't get back training quickly she will be forced to concede defeat.

Bedford said: "Unless she's at 95 per cent of her best form she shouldn't be going to the Olympics in Beijing.

"She should remember the next Games are in just over four years. She would be running at the Olympics in her own country and would not be at an age where she couldn't compete."