Four years ago, Paula Radcliffe endured her father’s death and daughter’s cancer battle, relying on resilience, family strength and unwavering determination.
Often, when pain is as raw as Paula Radcliffe’s was four years ago, words struggle to capture the depth of emotion.
The British marathon legend endured what she described as the most challenging period of her life in 2020, losing her father, Peter Radcliffe, and shortly afterward, facing the unimaginable—the diagnosis of her 13-year-old daughter, Isla, with a rare form of cancer.
At the time, Radcliffe leaned on the resilience she had built through years of competitive running.
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But no marathon had tested her strength like this one. In 2021, as she reflected on that period, she admitted that the grief of losing her father and the fear of her daughter’s illness felt overwhelming.
“It was really hard preceded by losing my dad in April 2020, not through COVID at all but that complicated matters,” she said in an interview with CNN.
“He actually had congested heart failure but was treated as a COVID patient, and it took them a long time to understand that that wasn’t it.”
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Her father, a key pillar of support, had always been there to guide her, but suddenly, she had to navigate life’s toughest challenge without him. When Isla was diagnosed with cancer, Radcliffe found herself needing the strength he had instilled in her. But she also realized that his wisdom remained with her, helping her through the darkest days.
By the time Isla was given the all-clear in 2021, Radcliffe had endured months of uncertainty, navigating her daughter’s treatment while holding her family together. As an athlete, she had always lived by the mantra of having a plan and sticking to it.
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But the unpredictability of cancer, with its ever-moving goalposts, tested her resolve. She found herself relying on the same discipline that had carried her through world-class competition.
“To be honest, my background in sport helped me—my dad always taught me, ‘Have a plan, stick to it,’ so here we had a plan, and we stuck to it,” she explained.
“When I found it difficult was when the goalposts moved.”
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Through it all, Radcliffe remained inspired by her daughter’s strength.
Despite enduring grueling chemotherapy, Isla maintained a perspective that even adults would struggle to adopt. She reminded her mother that other children in the hospital had it worse, teaching Radcliffe lessons in courage she never expected to learn from her own child.
By 2021, as the Tokyo Olympics approached, Radcliffe had started looking forward again. She was back in the world of athletics as a commentator, observing a new generation of runners.
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Though she had never won an Olympic medal herself, she had no regrets. In her mind, sport was about more than medals—it was about resilience, pushing through adversity, and learning from setbacks.
“I try not to do that—it’s one of my rules, ‘No regrets,'” she said at the time.
“Look back and learn from things that have gone wrong, but don’t keep dwelling and don’t keep that bitterness and sadness boxed up and carry it around with me.”
Now, in 2025, Radcliffe’s story stands as a testament to perseverance. She has continued to champion clean sport, mentor young athletes, and embrace life beyond competition.
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But the memories of 2020 remain etched in her heart—not just for the pain they brought, but for the strength they revealed.
