Encouragement for Radcliffe

Updated 12.47 Sun Aug 03 2008

Keywords: beijing 2008, beijing olympics, olympic games, olympics, marathon, paula radcliffe, athletics, sport

Paula Radcliffe appears to be on course to compete in the marathon at the Olympics.

The world record holder has been recovering from a stress fracture in her left leg and a specialist recently suggested she will not be ready to race.

"It is conformation for me that she is making good progress" - Dave Collins

But Radcliffe has flown to the Great Britain training camp in Macau and there are signs of optimism.

British Athletics Performance Director Dave Collins said: "It's conformation for me that she's making good progress.

"We'll have a look. We've given her the space and the time that I think her performance level deserves, we'll see her get here and again, we'll be watching progress and see what happens. That's what we've been doing all the way through.

"I am more optimistic as time goes on. My crystal ball is, unfortunately, not working very well so I'll wait and see where we are but as things positively progress, that's good news."

Radcliffe was the overwhelming favourite to win the marathon gold medal at the 2004 olympics in Athens but she did not finish the race.