Paula Radcliffe flew out of Athens to start her healing process after failing to finish the marathon and 10,000metres.

Radcliffe has endured a miserable Games in which her dreams of an Olympic gold have been dashed.

The favourite for marathon gold was forced to pull out of the race with four miles remaining.

Then, when she gambled on tackling Friday night's 10,000m final in a bid to salvage her Games despite having run 22 miles of the marathon six days earlier, that too ended in disappointment.

Radcliffe pulled up with 3,400m left and afterwards admitted that she now faces a long period of rest to recover from the ordeal she has put herself through.

The 30-year-old marathon world record holder admitted she had experienced the "lowest of the lows" in Athens but had "no regrets" about tackling the 10,000m and vowed: "I will be back."

But Radcliffe, although insisting she had not done "any lasting damage" by running in last night's race, acknowledged that a long rest is a must.

"I'm going to have to give my body time to get over that," she conceded, as she reflected on her second major setback in Athens.

Radcliffe, who is believed to have flown to England rather than go back to her training base in Font Romeau in the French Pyrenees, has apparently already indicated that the World Half Marathon in New Delhi on October 3 is not in her plans.

She would be warmly welcomed at the Chicago Marathon on October 10 or the New York Marathon on November 7, but it is likely she will give herself a longer period of recuperation.

Radcliffe will however surely be pencilling in next year's London Marathon in April, having missed this year's race because it fell in an Olympic year.

Radcliffe made her marathon debut in London in 2001, when she broke the women's only record and later that year in Chicago she set a mixed race world's best.

Then, in the 2003 London Marathon, she shattered the women's world marathon record when running 2:15.25.

Team GB athletics leader Max Jones leapt to Radcliffe's defence this morning over her decision to gamble on running the 10,000m.

"It was a run she had to do, although the odds were stacked against her," said Jones.

"Paula had physiological tests from both the British Olympic Association and UK Athletics doctors before making her decision."

Jones and the doctors were well aware of Radcliffe's determination to compete, knowing that it would have haunted her for years had she not lined up on the start-line.

"I have massive respect for her and I know she will be back a stronger athlete next year," he added.