Paula Radcliffe is one of the most instantly recognisable marathon runners of all time. The three-time London and New York Marathon champion has displayed her inspiring drive and determination to the world and is now using her platform to motivate audiences as an after-dinner speaker. The former marathon, half marathon and cross country champion is able to relate her story to both corporate and sporting organisations in order to make a huge impact on everyone she addresses.
Taking inspiration from her father who regularly ran marathons, Paula began running at the age of seven despite the fact that she suffered from asthma and anaemia. She became a member of Bedford & County Athletics Club and eventually participated in her first race at a national level in 1986. She showed significant improvements as she continued to train and went onto win the English Schools 1500 metres title. Her first notable victory came when she won the World Cross Country Championships in 2001. She defended her title once more in 2002 before deciding to take on the London Marathon. At her first 26 mile victory, Paula managed to achieve the second quickest time in women’s marathon history before setting an international record at the Chicago Marathon in 2002. Her performances in the following year did not fail to impress as she went onto break her own record and also won the 2004 New York City Marathon.
Other notable achievements of Radcliffe’s career include winning a further three marathons, being appointed MBE, releasing her own autobiography Paula: My Story So Far, winning BBC Sports Personality of the Year and £64,000 for both Asthma UK and the British Olympic Association on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. In 2007, Paula was again nominated for the Sports Personality Award, she managed to win the Laureus World Comeback of the Year following on from her return from childbirth and also secured Londoner of the Year award despite being from Bedford. More recently, Paula was named as one of the Paris 2024 ambassadors ahead of the marathon run.
Her desirable ‘Olympic mindset’, drive and mental resilience have led her to be known as the Master of the Marathon and one of the most empowering sportswomen in the world. Her positive, can-do attitude leaves a lasting impact on any variety of audiences she addresses from corporate, school and sports organisations.
In our exclusive interview with Paula Radcliffe, she supplied valuable predictions for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. Read our tell-all article today.
How to hire Paula Radcliffe
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Paula Radcliffe for your next event, today. To get in touch, simply call an official booking agent on 0207 1010 553 or email us at [email protected] for more information.
** We do not accept requests for autographs, signed merchandise, fan mail, birthday messages or any other non-commercial contact with the speakers or acts. Each speaker on the website may not have necessarily worked with Champions in the past but are known to perform such engagements within the industry.
When at corporate events, Paul is known to cover the following topics:
- Athletics & Sports
- Cross Country Championships
- Sports Personality Of The Year
- Drive & Determination
- Peak Performance
"One of the most engaging, professional and popular speakers we have used."
- Raccoon Events
- 2024 - Named as one of the Paris 2024 ambassadors
- 2015 - Competed in final marathon at the London Marathon, finishing in 2:36:55.
- 2008 - Won the New York City Marathon for the third time with a time of 2:23:56.
- 2007 - Won the New York City Marathon with a time of 2:23:09.
- 2005 - Won the World Championship marathon with a record time of 2:20:57.
- 2004 - Won the New York City Marathon with a time of 2:23:10.
- 2003 - Set the women’s marathon world record with a time of 2:15:25 at the London Marathon.
- 2002 - Won the Chicago Marathon with a world record time of 2:17:18.
- 2002 - Won the London Marathon with a world’s best time for a women’s only race, 2:18:55.
- 2001 - Won the World Cross Country Championships in Ostend.
- 2000 - Won the World Half Marathon Championships, marking her first world title.
- 2000 - Set a new European record for the half marathon at the Great North Run with a time of 67:07.
- 1999 - Won silver in the 10,000 meters at the World Championships.
- 1995 - Finished fifth in the 5,000 meters at the World Championships.
- 1993 - Finished second in her first senior race behind Olympic Champion Derartu Tulu.
- 1992 - Won the Junior title at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships.
