Super Saturday was followed by Black Sunday here in Athens as a devastated Paula Radcliffe crashed out of the Olympic Marathon.

We'd set up a broadcast position overlooking the race end at the Panathanaiko Stadium. We were listening to the race commentary through headphones, moments away from going live on air, when Britain's brightest Olympic hope ground to a distressing halt on the 36km marker.

There was a collective gasp of disbelief from the hundreds of British supporters who were waiting below, draped in Union Flags. They'd spent the afternoon cheering and dancing -- but after seeing Radcliffe drop out of the race on the stadium big screen the party mood evaporated instantly.



Minutes later, race winner Mizuki Noguchi thundered up the home straight and into the stadium, followed by Catherine Ndereba and Deena Kastor.

It wasn't the ending we'd hoped for.