NO one was more relieved than Paula Radcliffe when Shirley Robertson and her Yngling crew clinched Britain's first gold medal of the Games.

Reckoned to be our only realistic chance of an Olympic athletics crown, Radcliffe feared she might also be saddled with the responsibility for capturing the nation's first title in any sport.

At least now she doesn't have that extra burden but the pressure remains firmly on the Northwich born long distance runner.

Radcliffe has been a virtual recluse before and since her arrival in Athens five days ago to ensure nothing detracts from her goal.

Now, she must deliver to secure the one major honour missing from her collection. It doesn't matter about time tomorrow.

All that's important is negotiating the 26 miles from Marathon to the Olympic Stadium without any rivals passing her.

On most other courses that would be a formality for the double London Marathon winner.

However, the blistering Greek heat will magnify any weakness in her step.

It's been roasting here for the past two days with temperatures in excess of 90 degrees even at her allotted local start time of 6pm.

The forecast is for much the same tomorrow when the girl, who used to run in the shade of Delamere Forest, puts her meticulous preparation to the test.

"My dad was a marathoner and when I was a young girl he would take me to the woods and let me run cross country races," she recalls.

Gee Cross running legend, Dr Ron Hill, won the 1969 European marathon on the same course. He reckons the gold is in the bag.

"I think Paula is a dead cert," says the 67-year-old former Commonwealth champion. "She won't have left anything to chance.

"The Africans won't enjoy running in the heat any more than Paula."

Ironically, Radcliffe's last outing couldn't have been in sharper contrast. She ran at wet and windy Gateshead back in July and only over 10,000 metres.

Since then she's secreted herself away at her French Pyrenean retreat with husband and coach Gary Lough ready for the big day.

She's steadfastly refused to do any media interviews which hasn't gone down well with the regular athletics writing corps.

And while no one wants to see her fail, Radcliffe hasn't made life easier for herself.

It's even been suggested she recently made a flying visit to see a German specialist, Dr Hans-Wilhelm M'ller-Wohlfahrt, over a worrying calf problem.

But UK Athletics chief Max Jones strenuously denies the rumours saying: "She certainly does not have a calf injury."

However, the 30-year-old had been to Muller-Wohlfahrt's Munich clinic a month ago for the all clear on her hernia operation she had last March.

No British athlete has ever won an Olympic marathon gold medal. Tom Richards (1948) and Basil Heatley (1964) secured silvers in London and Tokyo respectively.

Radcliffe's chief rivals look to be 2004 London Marathon winner Margaret Okayo and Kenyan compatriot Catherine Ndereba.

Fourth over 10,000 metres in Sydney four years ago, now nothing less than gold tomorrow will satisfy the Cheshire runner.

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