At The 2001 World Championships Paula regretfully didn't stick to her pre-race tactics and was out-sprinted by an Ethiopian trio, comprising Derartu Tulu, Berhane Adere and Gete Wami. Although Paula was able to stay in contention with them over the last lap (finishing just 0.08 behind Wami), she was inconsolable.
The year ended as the next was meant to go on - with victory. She retained her World Half Marathon title on home soil, in another European record (1:06:47). It was her third global title within 12 months and it was soon becoming obvious to many that Paula's future may lie in the longer distances. With Paula already promising her Marathon debut in London 2002, there was a lot of excitement and anticipation heading in to the new year.
Starting the year with another win at the World Cross Country Championships, Paula overcame a niggling injury to make the starting line for the London Marathon in April 2002. After just six miles, Paula felt easy - too easy - and began pushing the pace. Onlookers thought she might have been making a novice's mistake, but Paula kept the tempo and finished in 2:18:56 - a women's-only world best, a European record, and the fastest ever debut over the 26-miles distance.
Her first track race of the season became Paula's only defeat that year. Running the 3000m at Monaco, Paula finished one second behind the fast-finishing Szabo. The defeat didn't bother Paula too much as it was only a Grand Prix race, and it resulted in Paula taking over four seconds off her best for the distance, setting another British record. It took Szabo a European record in order to win, such was the high standard of the race. Paula knew she was in good form leading into the Commonwealth Games.
Running on home soil in Manchester at the Commonwealth Games, Paula was taken aback at the crowd's support and enthusiasm. She started the 5000m running alongside the leading pack, but then made a move after the first few laps. From thereon in, she never looked back and continued to extend her lead over eventual 2nd-placer Edith Masai right up until the finish line. Her time (14:31.42) was a new British record and setting it in Britain made it all the more sweeter.
There was no rest for Paula though, as the European Championships were being held the following week. Entered for the 10,000m, the athletes were faced with heavy rain - 25 laps of it. Paula had set herself the target of breaking 30 minutes and although she only missed out on the barrier by 1.09 seconds, she didn't care. She'd smashed the European record and had won the race by over 40 seconds from another one of her long-time rivals, Sonia O'Sullivan. It was sweet redemption of her disappointing performance at the previous edition of these Championships, but the year did not end there.
Paula's last race of that season was another Marathon, this time in Chicago. The aim was the world record - a record she went on to smash by 1min 29secs with her time of 2:17:18. Her year ended by winning the IAAF athlete of the Year and the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards, the latter being won with a staggering 605,000 votes.
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