Athletics: Goodwill of the British people carried me to victory in New York; MARATHON MIRACLE: PAULA'S HEROIC RETURN RADCLIFFE ON COMEBACK TRIUMPH AFTER ATHENS WOE.

Byline: John CROSS

PAULA RADCLIFFE last night paid tribute to the "incredible support" which helped her overcome her Olympic nightmare.

Radcliffe fought back from her Athens heartbreak to win the New York Marathon after being overwhelmed by the level of public backing after her dreams of winning Olympic gold ended in tears.

The British No.1 won the hearts of the nation after breaking down during the marathon and 10,000 metres and admits she took a huge gamble to run in New York just 11 weeks after her ordeal in Greece.

But Radcliffe restored her pride by winning on Sunday and has now set her sights on next year's London Marathon thanks to the huge support she received after Athens.

The 30-year-old, who picked up a cheque for pounds 76,000 by winning in New York - as well as pounds 270,000 just for taking part - said: "You just don't know sometimes how people will react, especially when you are feeling so low and wondering what had gone wrong. But the incredible support from the fans in Britain really helped me through.

"It lifted me so much and made me realise just how much I wanted to come back.

"I had letters of support, good wishes and people coming up to me in the street. It really did pick me up and it helped me through such a difficult time.

"Winning in New York won't wipe out what happened in Athens. Nothing will ever make up for that. But I'm moving on with my life, and this win is a good way to start.

"And even in New York there was a hell of a lot of British support out there which, once again, kept me going and thank you very much for that."

But Radcliffe insisted that even after her Athens devastation she never thought about quitting the sport.

The Loughborough-based athlete, whose time in New York was almost eight minutes off her own world record, said: "Retiring or giving up never crossed my mind.

"I knew there were reasons for what happened in Athens and that once I got over those I'd be back to being myself again.

"The time in New York doesn't matter at all. Coming here and winning was all that really mattered.

"It wasn't about proving anything to anyone - it was just about getting back to doing what I do and enjoying it. I felt totally different. I felt totally myself. There was nothing of the dead and empty feeling I had in Athens.

"Once I entered the race I always wanted to win it and to achieve that means so much for me."

Radcliffe will now run the Nike 10km event in London later this month before taking an extended break, but she is also set to run the London Marathon next spring.

London Marathon race director David Bedford has made it clear she will command - and get - a potentially record-breaking fee for taking part.

Bedford said: "She knows she will always be welcome in London and can carry on running until she is 100, as far as I'm concerned.

"She knows she would get a fantastic reception in London and I really hope that she competes as it would be a great draw for the race."

Radcliffe added: "London is a major option, but I'm going to take a holiday and take it from there. But I think the marathon is still my future."

SPORT'S GREAT COMEBACKS

MUHAMMAD ALI (pictured):

Became the first boxer to win the world heavyweight title for a third time in 1978 when he beat Leon Spinks at 36.

ANDRE AGASSI: After dropping from No.1 in the world in 1996 to 141 in 1997, Agassi finished 1999 on top.

LANCE ARMSTRONG: Just 33 months after being diagnosed with testicular cancer, the Texan won the 1999 Tour de France. He has won it five times.

BOB CHAMPION: After being told he had eight months to live in 1979 when being diagnosed with cancer, Champion won the 1981 Grand National on Aldaniti.

CAPTION(S):

FLYING AGAIN: Radcliffe enjoys her New York success