Devastated Paula: I'll be back

Paula Radcliffe today spoke for the first time since her marathon agony and declared: "I will be back."

Devastated by disappointment, Radcliffe has the option of competing in Friday's 10,000metres, but admitted she is still undecided about making such an immediate return. She will spend the next 48 hours considering whether to run again at the Athens Olympics.

A tearful Radcliffe broke down during in a BBC television interview this afternoon and claimed she was still mystified as to why it went wrong in yesterday's marathon.

Britain's star athlete, who had been favourite to win gold, pulled up with four miles of the race remaining after her medal chances had gone.

Regarding the 10,000m, she said: "I am not going to make that decision today I came here to win the marathon and I can't think about that today because of the emotion.

"I desperately want to get out and redeem something but I'm not going to put myself in the arena if I am not right.

"My plan was to come here and run the marathon, win it and then decide after that. It is not a decision I am going to make in the next 24 hours. Emotionally and physically I need time to make a decision.

"Part of me wants to do it but I can't do it if I'm not right. But I will be back definitely. I will pick myself up and I will be back."

Radcliffe saw doctors in Athens to undergo a series of tests and is awaiting the results this evening. Any medical problem is certain to signal the end of her Olympics.

She added: "I am struggling to comprehend what happened and find a reason for it. The conditions were tough for everyone and I prepared for the conditions and I don't think the heat was a factor.

"I got to the stage in the middle of the race when there was nothing in my legs. I am totally devastated because this race was what it was all about and I was preparing for this."

After her tearful TV interview, Radcliffe faced a barrage of questions and flashbulbs at a media conference.

Radcliffe said: "Physically, I feel fine. My legs maybe felt they hit the ground harder than they did but physically I am okay. Mentally I am trying to pick up the pieces.

"It's really difficult. I didn't feel the conditions were excessively bothering me heatwise but after 15-20km I felt nothing in my legs. I felt I could regroup but in the end I was struggling to stay on the road and I felt numb."