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Paula Radcliffe, the golden girl of British athletics, insists she will be under less pressure to win the marathon at the Beijing Olympics in August than she was in Athens four years ago when she experienced "the worst that can happen in the Olympics".

In Greece, as she is set to be in China, Radcliffe was the hot favourite for the gold medal but instead dropped out of the race in tears. Five days later, she also failed to finish in the 10 000 metres final.

But after receiving the 2008 Laureus World Comeback of the Year award Radcliffe, who has never won a medal at any of the three Olympics she has competed in, said in a statement: "I think for any athlete the Olympics is the pinnacle — I think it's that little bit more special.

"Winning a gold at the Olympics is that much better than winning a gold at the World Championships, which I have," added the 34-year-old, currently training at altitude in New Mexico.

"I think for me also, having been to three Olympics, where I feel I've never been able to achieve my maximum potential, there is an added fire and momentum and, yes, added pressure to perform in Beijing.

"I also feel that having been through what I have been through in previous Olympics, I've already experienced the worst that can happen and I've come through and survived, so for me the pressure is less. "

"I actually feel that that experience will make me stronger in Beijing. I think you can go into it with a little bit too much pressure on your shoulders. I think my previous experiences will help me treat it like another marathon. "What I need to do is go there 100 percent healthy, 100 percent fit and then just give it the best shot on the day."

Just as in Athens, severe heat is likely to be a factor in Beijing with air pollution in the Chinese capital a major concern for athletes from around the world ahead of August's Games.

"It will be warm in Bejing, it will be humid — which I think will be a bigger factor — but in the past I have always raced well in hot and humid conditions," Radcliffe, formerly a marathon and cross-country world champion said.

"Obviously, times will be slower but it will be tougher for everybody, but in some ways that will be better for me because a tougher race means the tougher racers will come to the top."

Radcliffe admitted that there were several dangers to her title chances.

"There will be strong opposition from the Chinese in their own country, from the Japanese who have a great record at Olympic games, from the Kenyan girls and Ethiopian girls," said Radcliffe.

"You've also got to be prepared for someone who comes in really good shape who you might not be expecting and be ready to handle that too."

Radcliffe, unable to attend last month's ceremony in St. Petersburg, received her Laureus award for her efforts in winning the 2007 New York Marathon after two years out of competitive athletics while she gave birth to her first child and recovered from a stress fracture of the lower back.

"I wasn't surprised to win in New York; I wouldn't have gone to New York if I didn't feel, from the training indications that I was in shape to win the race," Radcliffe explained.

"I think I surprised a few people who thought that after having a baby I couldn't come back like that, but I myself never doubted it and neither did the people around me. The most important thing is that I did win and I am now able to build upon that for Beijing."

AFP