On the right TRACK

Four-time Olympian turned commentator PAULA RADCLIFFE on why Team GB is set to hit the ground running in Paris

- SEAN MARLAND

OLYMPICS

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The sound of spectators roaring you down the home straight inside a packed Olympic stadium is something many athletes dream of.

And for long-distance running superstar Paula Radcliffe, who competed in four consecutive Games from 1996 to 2008, those memories still give her plenty of goosebumps.

Now, the former world champion in marathon, half-marathon and crosscountry is thrilled to be cheering on a new generation of British runners as she commentates on the athletics action at the Paris Olympics for the BBC.

Here, in an exclusive chat with TV Times, mum-of-two Paula, 50, gives us the inside track on the contenders...

How excited are you about the trackand-field events taking place this week, Paula?

Really excited! It was tough for athletes to be out there competing in empty stadiums at the last Olympics in Tokyo [the 2020 Games were postponed to 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic], but this won't be like that at all. Having the crowds there makes a huge difference to the athletes, and can really elevate their performance.

Which Team GB hopefuls are you tipping for success in the track events?

Josh Kerr won bronze in the men's 1,500m in Tokyo, and I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do this time [Josh, now 26, was the only male Team GB athlete to bring back a medal from Japan]. He's full of confidence, and there's a real rivalry building between him and Norway's Jakob Ingebrigtsen, who's defending his title.

I'll also be keeping an eye on Keely Hodgkinson in the women's 800m [the now 22-year-old won silver in the event at Tokyo 2020]. She's still young, but we've got huge hopes for her. I think it's going to be hard, because she'll be up against Kenya's Mary Moraa, but it's sure to be fascinating.