Cutty Sark 'special' to marathon star - May 22 2007
London Marathon legend Paula Radcliffe has said that she had "special memories" of the Cutty Sark and described the fire as "terrible".

Speaking from Monaco, she said the ship was one of the icons of the London race and she hoped it could be restored.

"It's terrible. I heard it on the news this morning. I have special memories of the Cutty Sark because it's where I got away (from the field) in my first marathon," she revealed.

"It's one of the icons of the marathon course and hopefully the damage will not be too much and hopefully they will be able to restore it.

"When I was a youngster, I also went there for the day to have a look around."

The Cutty Sark is about six and a half miles into the London race.

Paula set the women's world record for a marathon - 2hrs 15mins 25 secs- in London on April 13, 2003.

Paula ’over the moon’ with baby Isla - Jan 18 2007
Champion marathon runner Paula Radcliffe today said she and her husband were "over the moon" at the birth of their baby daughter.

The 33-year-old long distance athlete gave birth to her first child in the Princess Grace hospital, Monaco, at 9.43am yesterday.

Paula and husband Gary Lough, a former international 1500 metres runner, have named the baby Isla.

"We are both over the moon to announce the arrival of our daughter Isla," she said in a statement today.

"The birth certainly was not easy, but she is well worth it.

"I’m enjoying my first days as a mother and we are looking forward to getting to know our daughter and sharing our lives with her.

"I would like to thank everyone for their good wishes," she said.

Baby Isla, who was due on January 6, weighed approximately 6lbs 7oz when she was born after the long labour.

After she announced her pregnancy last July, Paula said she would continue her career for at least six years and challenge for the 2012 Olympic marathon title once she’d settled into motherhood.

The marathon world record holder said she believed the birth of her first child would motivate her to continue her career until the London Games.

Paula plans to compete at the World Athletics Championships in Japan in August, but is keeping her options open on whether to target the marathon or 10,000 metres.

She has committed herself to aiming for the marathon at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.