Paula Radcliffe earned more for a day's work than any other sportswoman in history when she broke the world marathon record in London yesterday.
The 29-year-old collected $1m (ã636,000) for an astonishing performance, covering the 26.2-mile course in 2hr 15min 25sec, 1min 53sec faster than the record she set six months ago in Chicago.
It won her $255,000 in prize money and bonuses of $55,000 for finishing first and $125,000 for a world record, on top of her appearance fee of $300,000 and further unpublished bonuses from the London organisers and her shoe sponsor.
Her future earnings could dwarf even those figures.
"Any marathon that wants Paula to run in their race will have to give her $1m just to start," said Carey Pinkowski, race director of the Chicago marathon.
Radcliffe's victory took the amount she has earned in prize money to $3m in the 12 months since she won the event on her debut at the distance.
Alastair Campbell, 45, the prime minister's press chief, finished the race in 3hr 53min. He raised more than ã250,000 for charity, including $100 from President George Bush.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,936276,00.html
