A six time national champion in the women's 5000 m, as of 2014 she is second on the British all-time list for 5000 m with a time of 14 minutes 39.96 seconds and is a former British recorder holder at 3000 m indoors. She first moved up to the 5000 m in 2000, after coming back from a two-year absence caused by hip and knee injuries. In her first race at the distance she comfortably achieved the Olympic qualifying standard. This meant she was selected for the British team for the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. Pavey reached the Olympic final, where she improved her personal best by 10 seconds to finish 12th and record a sub fifteen minute 5000m in her first year at the event.