Do we over hype our sport stars?

Kelly Holmes has kept hopes of an Olympic medal double alive after easing into the semi-finals of the women's 1500m on Tuesday night.

She claimed Britain's first track gold of the Games in the 800m on Monday.

Holmes has said she will focus on the 1500m but plans to pretend she never won gold when she is back at the start line because, as she said: "I've got my dream - I have got my gold medal and no-one can take that away from me."

Speaking to the BBC on Monday Paula Radcliffe said she had "let everyone down" after her bid for Olympic marathon gold ended in tears.

Do the media over hype sporting stars? Does the pressure of expectation defeat athletes? Tell us what you think.

---

The following comments reflect the balance of opinion we have received so far:

SUGGEST A DEBATE This topic was suggested by Rex Lester from UK: Do we over hype or idolise our star athletes? Send us your suggestions for Have Your Say debates

Surely the world's greatest marathon runner is entitled to an off day? Leave her alone, she's an inspiration to thousands of wannabe athletes like me and always will be.
Gavin, Brent Knoll, England

Of course the media will hype anything they believe to be good marketing strategy. I felt very badly for Paula Radcliffe upon quitting the marathon but she has the character to survive.
John, Charlottesville USA

What happened to the joy of being able to just compete with a bash for glory? Llonel, Sussex UK

The truth is we have lost the essence of sport to sensationalism and money. Win or be damned. What happened to the joy of being able to just compete with a bash for glory?
LIonel, Sussex UK

Paula has not let her supporters down. Perhaps the outcome was inevitable - with the tough weather and course conditions. She remains a fantastic runner.
Michael, UK

With these sports stars, like Ms Radcliffe, making a fortune from marathon wins, undisclosed appearance fee and bonus from Nike, it is hard to say that she was put under too much pressure. If not for the media giving her the glory that brought her fame and fortune when she has won, then the media would not be around to cover her failure. The spotlight is almost never too much when the good times are seen, but is an easy target when a woman who is one of the greats of her sport suffers failure.
Robert, USA

Paula had one bad day; I wish the same could be said for the English football team. We're proud of you Paula.
Bryan, Bedford. UK

I found Brendan Fosters' commentary after Paula had dropped out to be dreadful. Paula has and will always have, our support, but to be so dismissive of the other athletes' efforts was a disgrace for a professional commentator. Numerous overseas athletes have come to these shores and raced in appalling conditions (and won}. Where's national the outcry then? If we continue to over hype sports stars as we do, the bump as we come crashing down to reality will become more and more painful.
Patrick, Birmingham, England

I still think she is the best in the world Colin Skilton, Reigate, Great Britain

My heart goes out to Paula she tried so hard to win but it was not to be. I still think she is the best in the world and wish her all the best for whatever decisions she makes for the future. I hope she goes for the 10,000 meters because it would give her the chance to excel again but at the end of the day the decision is hers and l hope we will respect whatever that will be
Colin Skilton, Reigate, Great Britain

Over hyped or not we should be proud of team GB all of them they are doing us proud.
Tracey Mitchell, Barnsley, England

"We" don't put the pressure on, the media does. Expectations are fine but the media makes too much fuss when they're not met.
Steve B, Edinburgh, Scotland

The Brits struggle with victory and defeat. Win and you boast, fail and you moan. Paula did her best on the day and others did better. The media should leave her alone.
Jack, London, UK

Did the BBC media realise there were 3 British marathon runners in the race? All the attention was about Paula Radcliffe. Come on BBC, give Paula a break and spread the coverage evenly.
Brian, Aberdeenshire

Nobody has a God-given right to win anything. In Ms Radcliffe's case, she was obviously convinced she was going to win despite knowing what the conditions would be like. Well she didn't and the fault lies with her. Congratulations to those numerous other Marathonians who had the guts to continue.
Tony Ferney, Vincennes, France

The problem was that Paula was in a real marathon race for the first time Nic C, Cincinnati, Oh

The problem was that Paula was in a real marathon race for the first time. The other marathons were more like time trials with male runners to help pull her round. Racing in fierce conditions with good and determined opponents is very different from the other runs. I don't think she was race fit, but she played her part in a tremendous event. Well done to the Japanese winner and the American who came third with her tortoise vs. hare tactics.
Nic C, Cincinnati, Oh

I think it's an absolute disgrace that Paula pulled up during the Olympic marathon. What message is this sending out to the next generation of sports stars; it's OK to give up if you're not going to win? The important thing about sport is the taking part not the rewards. Giving up is not the British way, she could have walked the remaining 3 miles and been an inspiration for everyone.
Iain, Bristol

To Ian MacPherson from Bristol who said that Paula Radcliffe should have walked the other 3 miles home, and shown the British Spirit. As a competitor within the Equestrian sports, and who has experience of competing internationally, along with many other disabled riders, I can tell you that for Paula to have walked the rest of the way home would have been madness. I have personal experience of what can happen when you push your body beyond its limits. In my case, it was nearly a year out of the saddle due to injury worsened because I didn't listen to what my body was telling me.
Aid, Hertfordshire, UK

Paula Radcliffe owes us nothing. She has given those of us who truly love athletics many instances of joy over the years. For sure, it was a disappointment, but possibly more so, after the way in which her Gold medal was considered guaranteed in some sections of the media. This was a race which was never going to favour the North Europeans and sadly, Paula proved that.
Mark Armitage, Leeds, West Yorks

I find it amusing that the media/members of the public consider 30 degrees Celsius too hot! Paula wasn't the only athlete competing, there were many more. The last one, from Mongolia, completed the course albeit well over an hour after the winner. Let's face it, this race is about endurance and Japan is not a hot country either!
Sandeep, London, UK

Sandeep, London - have you ever been to Japan in the summer?
John, London

It looked like he gave up once she hit fourth place. Her choice I guess, but not the best of messages for the youngsters. Taking part is just as important as winning! Don't chuck your toys out of the pram Paula.
Rob Watson, Winchester, Hampshire

True champions overcome adversity and bitter disappointment and use both as inspiration Lisa, UK

True champions overcome adversity and bitter disappointment and use both as inspiration to win that elusive gold. Kelly Holmes is proof of that. It wasn't Paula's day on Sunday so she should put it behind her now and think about the next race and standing on the podium.
Lisa, UK

I was disgusted by 5 Live's interview with Kelly Holms this morning. Why do they need to talk about Paula Radcliffe? Kelly's race was fantastic - nerves of steel tactics and great form to the end. That is what we should be focusing on. Paula is a great athlete and will have her time again but let's put her efforts into perspective.
Roger, UK

Okay so Paula lost - I don't hear her give any credit to the Japanese girl who won. It was a race - not a time trial. She obviously had not done her homework on the climatic conditions.
Jonathan Evans, Newport, Wales

The plain and simple truth is that Paula Radcliffe is Human, not a machine and therefore prone to human failings like the rest of us. I believe it takes far more courage to say 'enough is enough' than to go blindly onward. Paula has let nobody down a fantastic athlete and someone whom we all should admire. A true lady of courage!
Neil Ockenden, Highlands of Scotland

I have seen Paula Radcliffe training locally, running up and down hills a lot rougher than those in Athens, but in the cool of the evening. The athletes wanted the marathon to start at 6-00 AM, but that would have missed the US TV slot. If a person requires a saline infusion then they are seriously dehydrated, when that happens the body can overheat, confusion can set in, unless something is done immediately then the result can be coma and DEATH. Have the people who complain at Paula's decision to stop thought about that?
John, Loughborough, UK

Think yourselves lucky that you do not have to contend with the Australian media Christine, Australia (ex UK)

Think yourselves lucky that you do not have to contend with the Australian media. It is hard to believe that the Olympics is an international competition - to date is has been an Aussie swimming event. The ones who fail to win gold are under constant scrutiny for their 'failure'.
Christine, Australia (ex UK)

I didn't put any pressure on her. I have never even spoken to her.
Colin Heyes, UK citizen in Germany

Yes, we do, but what's worse we ignore the two GB girls who did finish the race under the same conditions.
Helen, Slough, England

Yes - without a doubt. The media put far too much pressure on our sports men and women at these big sporting events. They raise expectations to unreasonable levels to the detriment of the competitors involved.
David Fell, Bradford

Once again we (English) celebrate failure by giving Paula over-whelming news coverage. Kelly receives relatively little coverage...leave failures alone!
Moog, London

Everyone who saw the clips of Paula's emotion, were equally moved by her disappointment - but this isn't the big news for the UK team. We should be focussing on the positive stories from today and let Paula make her own decisions about the future by herself.
Alan, Bury St Edmunds

We put them under too much pressure. When there is no need for it. They do it themselves.
Maria, Middlesex

I wish we could watch all the interesting events instead of all the events of British interest Mary, London

In order to watch for the 50th time the scene of Paula leaving the race, the BBC did not show parts of important finals in athletics and gymnastics. Olympics is not about British athletes. It is about enjoying sports no matter which country competes. I wish we could watch all the interesting events instead of all the events of 'British interest'. Next games I am buying cable
Mary, London

Unless you've run a marathon you have no idea how difficult of a task it is. I ran the Boston Marathon in April in 30C weather and believe me to say it is difficult is an understatement. You can't fault Radcliffe for trying her best and having the reaction that she did. All you can do is give it your best. That's exactly what she did, and that is all that matters. That's what makes a champion.
Mike, Boston, USA

Paula Radcliffe is still one of the greatest British athletes of all time and that will never be taken away from her. She will never be a failure in the eyes of her true fans who have followed her career from day one. Only when you have been in the deepest valley, can you ever know how magnificent it is on top of the highest mountain, Paula will fight back. Well done to Kelly Holmes too, what a superstar, after all these years it finally came together.
Kalwinder Singh Dhindsa, Derby, England

The simple fact is that if Radcliffe had simply withdrawn from the race without showing emotion, this would have been a two minute news story. But because she had such a strong reaction, the media are given plenty of material to work with. I don't condemn Radcliffe for being upset, but it really does show the media's true colours (once again...)
Ian, Durham, UK

Now that I'm training again for the next marathon I keep thinking of her determination Matt Hobson, Plymouth

Having run the London marathon in 2002 I was lucky enough to witness Paula running at her 22mile point. She is the most amazing athlete to watch and now that I'm training again for the next marathon I keep thinking of her determination. It's going to get me through 26 miles of pain. She can't be ashamed and feel she has let anyone down. Any one who says that its part of being a pro athlete has no idea what it's like to run, not walk, that distance at the speed she does it at. It's not all in a days work! Believe me it is very very different from sitting at a desk, its a way of life.
Matt Hobson, Plymouth

She simply did not win, lets leave it at that and get on with the games!
Simon, Channel Islands

Paula has my utmost sympathy for her performance last Sunday. Having spent two weeks in Athens at the height of the summer visiting friends (both last year and the year before) I can tell you that the Athens heat is no joke. All I was doing was enjoying a sedate taverna crawl but to be running around in that heat at that time of day deserves a medal just for turning up to start the race. Perhaps some of your commentators critical of Paula's performance should try it sometime. I think they may be a bit more sympathetic towards her in the future.
Shaun Crowther, UK

Must we listen to the hype about Paula Radcliffe not winning the marathon for days? She was one of was it 84 entrants I think, so that means 83 other women didn't win either. I think the media have gone over the top "Tears of a Hero" to quote one national newspaper front page headline, wrong word - failing to win a gold medal and breaking down in tears when she realised she would not win any medal does not make a hero.
Bernice, Fife

The answer is simple. Yes. Or how would the BBC morally defend a headline of "Pictures of Paula's pain". This headline would be more at home in the red-top tabloids. Are we to revel in someone's pain and disappointment? This woman is a shining example to us all.
Wendy, Berkshire, UK

Kelly Holmes wins gold, but the top story on the BBC website is about Paula Radcliffe failing. Says a lot about priorities doesn't it?
Carl, London, UK

The English media seem to expect that their sports stars are guaranteed to win at the big events and then are left to justify what went wrong, when it undoubtedly does Lesley, Glasgow

I can't believe the English media! Today, the first item of news on both radio and TV has been about Paula Radcliffe. Channel 4 news spent the first eight to nine minutes chewing it over with sporting friends of Paula Radcliffe and sports psychologists, whilst the crisis in Sudan was relegated to the second item in the news. The English media seem to expect that their sports stars are guaranteed to win at the big events and then are left to justify what went wrong, when it undoubtedly does, i.e. Euro 2004, Henman, etc. I understand some people think sport is important, but it surely does not merit the amount of overblown hype that the viewing public have to put up with.
Lesley, Glasgow

I don't think that Paula Radcliffe has let anyone down. I think she's an incredible athlete who should be proud of the things she's achieved. Well done Paula - we're all proud of you!
Stephanie, Gosport, UK

These sports stars are no longer amateurs - it's what they do for a living. Pressure to win is part of the job description. If they can't stand it, they can always go work in a shop or something.
Abby O'Neil, Daventry

Although I am Dutch, I often watch the Olympics on the BBC, because I enjoy the enthusiasm of the commentators. However, when a British athlete has to compete, I usually switch back to Dutch television. At these moments the British media seem to go completely overboard. Athletes are definitely over hyped. Unfortunately, when they lose, they also get negative press that is out of proportion.
Jasper Plaisier, Leiden, The Netherlands

The press treated the marathon as if all Paula had to do was turn up and collect her gold medal. It should have been obvious that running a tough, hilly course in searing heat was not going to be a shoo-in for anyone.
David, London

I can't understand why she was 'expected' to win. Why such a lot of publicity over one person because she didn't win this race, and then to start complaining about the conditions because the 'favourite' didn't get a gold medal is quite ludicrous. Are we forgetting all the other runners who did so well, especially the American who won bronze? Everyone ran in the same conditions, stop bleating, it's a British disease, blame the ref, blame the heat .. the reporting of this is out of all proportion.
Arthur, Derby UK

Nobody forces any of the athletes to take part. Paula gave her very best, but unfortunately the extreme temperatures and poor timing of the event combined against her. There was always going to be a winner, but on this occasion Paula was not it. There were never going to be any records broken in such high temperatures, but nobody can blame her common sense in pulling out before she risked potentially serious consequences to her health. We're all still with you Paula!!
Ken Stimpson, UK

Paula has an amazing record on the road - how do you hype that? Mark, Didcot, England

Paula has an amazing record on the road - setting records at all distances from 5K upwards - how do you hype that? What it proves is that everyone is fallible. She missed out, but that doesn't take anything away from the immense hard work she put in. She should be proud to be a better runner than anyone else in this country.
Mark, Didcot, England

Although the results of Paula Radcliffe's race were clearly very disappointing, am I alone in thinking that the transformation of Radcliffe in to a Diana like figure is way over the top?
Dave Critchley, Leigh Lancs

She had a bad day. We usually have it in private, and can quietly go away and lick our wounds. Unfortunately, Paula will have to live with this one. My sympathies go out to her. Let's cut her some slack and move on always remembering the good things she has achieved.
George, UK

Are our athletes over hyped and given undue pressure? Yes, absolutely. However, the mark of a true champion is being able to fight through all the hype, criticism and over expectation. That's what sport is all about. Triumphing over adversity.
Jason, Detroit, USA

I am very, very proud of Paula Radcliffe and what she has done for athletics in this country. I will be going to my local track with my children tonight and there is no better role model for them than her in any sport today. I do not think any less of her now than I did last week and I have every confidence she will be back.
Gareth Knight, Isle of Wight

Well, she may be down now, but there's always Beijing in 4 years and 34 isn't a bad age for a Marathon runner. It'll also be a morning race there since there's a 12 hour time difference between New York and Beijing so it'd be bang on for American Prime Time TV, which clearly is an important factor in the Olympics. Regardless, she's still the best Marathon runner in the world.
Adam Penny, Norwich, UK

The pressure of expectation can only affect athletes if they happen to read or listen to the garbage put out by the media.
Dave Hough, Nottingham UK

The general opinion amongst the sporting press seemed to be that Radcliffe only had to turn up in order to win, which I would say put great pressure on her once it looked like the gold medal was beyond her grasp. The heat is one possible excuse, but it was just as hot for everybody else in the field after all.
Dave T, Birkenhead, Merseyside

We should show this fabulous athlete as much support as possible Marie, Glasgow, Scotland

I felt sorry for Paula last night - she was distraught. I think the media hyped up the fact that she had a very good chance to win Gold but I doubt very much if the hype would have had any affect on Paula's approach to the race. Paula's own personal expectations of herself are higher than anyone around her - she admitted that in a recent interview. I think we should show this fabulous athlete as much support as possible - last night was a great performance. Rather than remembering her sitting at the roadside in tears lets try to remember that she ran 23 miles in 35-40 degree temperatures !!
Marie, Glasgow, Scotland

One of my colleagues this morning commented that he was rather disappointed at Paula's performance yesterday. The fact that he did so whilst sitting there munching on a greasy bacon sandwich, weighing in at near 20 stone, and getting out of puff to get up and open a door in the office is more than slightly hypocritical. I admire Paula for her achievements thus far, and she has inspired me to take up running myself. I had no expectations from her at all at the start of the race, just admiration for the very fact that she was there at all. Good on you Paula!
Emma, UK

To the critics out there - Could you do any better? She did a damn fine job!
Craig, Sheffield

Other than our Footballers, who I regard as 2nd rate Prima Donna's rather than as sportsmen, I don't think we can be accused of over-hyping or idolising our elite sportsmen and women. We never hear of our Rowers except at the Olympics. Sports like Cycling, Sailing, Swimming are barely given airtime on terrestrial television. With regard to Paula, I think we deceived ourselves. Sure she was favourite, but to assume that she would win gold was to totally disrespect the other athletes, each the very best in their own countries, all of whom had prepared with just as much dedication.
John, England

Can we have as much coverage for the two British women that did finish?
Martin, Coventry

What annoys me is how quick some people are to put athletes down Stephanie Clarke, Cambridge, UK

What annoys me is how quick some people are to put athletes down. Yesterday I read a letter belittling someone for coming 4th in an Olympic swimming final! Sorry? How is being 4th best in the world a failure? Should only the top three doctors be allowed to practice? How many people in the world are good enough to get to an Olympic final - perhaps 20-30 in most sports?
Stephanie Clarke, Cambridge, UK

Enough about Paula Radcliffe - there are plenty of other Olympians who have failed to do as well as they wanted. She is simply one of many.
Steve Bee, Manchester, UK

When the original Greek Olympians won a race they were feted as minor gods, given land, money and free meals for the rest of their lives. It's no different today.
Lorraine, St Albans, UK

What reaction would the media have to the England football team throwing in the towel before the end of the match?
Shay Goss, Leeds, England

If there's one athlete who does not need to justify herself to the British public it's Paula, yet the BBC seems hell bent on forcing her to defend her decision to pull out. She has been such a gutsy performer and such an inspiration and ambassador for us that she has nothing to feel guilty for. The BBC should respect this wonderful athlete and stop relishing the moment of her despair by showing it over and over again, thus adding to her misery.
R Bird, Norwich, Norfolk

There is an underlying problem in that we're not encouraging enough athletes at school level due to the 'downgrading' of sports in the school Curriculum. This in turn means fewer competitors at international level, hence more pressure.
Pete, Birmingham UK

The weather had a lot to do with her pulling out. It was too hot and we are not used to that kind of heat. How can anyone compete in those temperatures especially when the run was hilly?
E Reade, Cardiff, UK

"How can anyone compete in those temperatures?". Well, the Japanese girl didn't have a problem, did she?
JS, UK

Radcliffe's pressure was self imposed.
Sean, Brussels, Belgium

Yes we do put too much pressure on our sports stars to be at the top of their game and too always be number 1. This also extends to our musical idols, TV personalities or movie stars. Then when our idols are at the top of their game, we like nothing more than to send them kicking and screaming back down again.
DC, Oxford, UK

How many people took part in the yesterdays marathon race? How many people are there in the world? Assuming that the competitors in yesterdays race are the best in the world then can expect/deserve some hype and idolisation.
Giles Clinker, London, UK

They're human; they have bad days and good days Adrian Clark, Sutton, UK

I think we tend to forget that not every athlete can perform at his/her best every time we watch. That's not a problem when you have plenty of top-level athletes... Maurice Greene has a bad day and the USA still win gold. However, we always end up pinning our hopes on one individual or team member (Radcliffe, Beckham, Henman) and frequently being disappointed. They're human; they have bad days and good days.
Adrian Clark, Sutton, UK

Paula failed to win - but so too did the majority of the entrants - yet not a word is said about them. Similarly with Euro 2004 - anyone who seriously expected England to win must have been out in the sun too long !
T Hedley, Sheffield, UK

It has always been a pleasure to watch Paula Radcliffe running, and whilst sharing her agony yesterday, it reminds one that we're all human and have our failing. I don't think the media over-hyped her, no. We've had plenty of gold medals already - the sailing and rowing for a start - and whilst Paula was the supposed best hope, that was only so because she was our 'best known'. Judging by the mutterings and rumours now circulating, it would seem that the women's marathon got interfered with by the US networks.
Steve Brereton, York, UK

Yes we do. We just don't know how to show respect for our athletes and how not to hype them up.
Himal, London, UK

Perhaps we have such a small pool of athletes that we rely too much on so few. And with so much money at the top in sport and pressure from the companies to show the product they to fall down under the pressure.
Clive, Dartford, UK

All this talk about the race being run at the wrong time of day is very unfair for the winner Ed, Bedford, UK

While I admire Paula Radcliffe incredibly for being the fastest female Marathon runner in the world, I think that all this talk about the race being run at the wrong time of day is very unfair for the winner, who was clearly able to perform in a reasonably fast time to win the race. How many runners actually did not finish the race? Not many.
Ed, Bedford, UK

Yes, but the media in this country over-hypes almost every aspect of every story within every domain of news and sport. If newspaper editors believe 5 pages of hero worship for Rooney, Radcliff, Princess Di can sell on a given morning they will put 5 pages of them in their paper. The only real surprise with today's papers is the amount of sympathy shown towards Paula!
Matt, London

I'm tired of reading the lame excuses by the likes of David Bedford... "no northern European could win in these conditions"! Face it David, all the runners faced the same gruelling conditions (reflected in the fact that the winner was 11 minutes slower than Radcliffe's best!). Of course if the conditions had been perfect for Radcliffe then she MAY have won... but they were not and as seen by all the world Paula Radcliffe was not up the race and was unable to finish.. That is it.. sad as it may be.. she just wasn't good enough and how dare you suggest that the race be made easier or more SUITABLE just for Paula Radcliffe and northern Europeans.
Ian Bird, London, UK

The pressure on Ms Radcliffe 'to perform' was immense, not only from the nation's point of view, but for her own personal ambitions and past disappointments at the Olympics. It would seem to me that she was not acclimatised to the heat and this shows a lack of basic preparation for running under these conditions. Perhaps she did not have the money to prepare properly by training in similar temperatures. Her event is obviously the most gruelling on the endurance type of fitness and my heart goes out to her during what must be for her a time of almost mourning.
Edwin Thornber, UK and Bucharest, Romania

It does get rather tedious to see our entire national identity and national self-esteem apparently riding on the back of one performance from one person. So in this instance Paula Radcliffe had to pull out of the race. It doesn't make her less of a person or us less of a country. As for those criticising her for not finishing the race, well I'd like to see you run a marathon in 35 degrees. Unfortunately the same applies everywhere - the media seems to expect every single high-profile sports person to adhere to some arbitrary "code of conduct" that they define and vary. These people are human, they have their own lives and their own strengths and weaknesses. The sooner we accept that and stop lambasting them every time they drop below 100% performance the better we'll all be.
John B, UK

If athletes are successful, they bask in the glory and adulation heaped on them by the media and public Maria, Kent

If athletes are successful, they bask in the glory and adulation heaped on them by the media and public. They strive for the attention because financially, success means high rewards. In my opinion, Paula Radcliffe gave up when she knew she was not going to get a medal and all this stuff about the temperature being to high etc is all fluff. It was the same for the other competitors who finished. Look at the American who came third. She did not give up and overtook the Ethiopian who you would think was more use to those kind of temperatures.
Maria, Kent

The media have a great deal to answer for. Yes, they hype up our athletes chances and then when things go wrong they turn on them calling them failures and quitters. We need a sense of realism. Some of our British athletes are the best in the world but not all of them. To Paula Radcliffe I say "Well tried" to the carping media I say "Shame on you"
john, Harrogate, UK

We (that is, the public) don't over hype sports stars, it's the media, eager for a crowd pleasing success, that hype them up.
John B, Gloucester, UK

I think this is an English thing. The English media always hypes up sport stars and the general public starts to believe the hype. Euro 2004 was a prime example! I much prefer the Scottish way - we don't expect much and are surprised if we do well!
Alan, Scotland

I think Paula should run in the 10000m later in the games to show what a fine athlete she really is. Good luck and best wishes to her and the team.
Dave, Lancaster