An attractive Olympic gold-medalist says she had a close personal relationship with Gov. Paterson earlier this year - during which time she recorded a series of secret telephone conversations with him. Track-and-field athlete Diane Dixon, of Brooklyn, also told The Post that she had received a private message yesterday morning from Paterson, asking if she was speaking with the media.Dixon, 43, said Paterson, 53, was "mostly responsible" for getting her a badly needed job earlier this month with the city Department of Education in Crown Heights' District 17. The job pays in the range of $48,000 to $65,000 a year, records show. "I'm a single mom with a child. I need this job," said Dixon, who grew up on Carroll Street in Crown Heights and won medals in the 4x400-meter relay at the 1984 games in Los Angeles and the 1988 Olympics in Seoul.
Paterson, a Democrat who was sworn in on Monday, admitted yesterday to having had several extramarital affairs, but contended they all ended years ago. He was informed by The Post in the morning that at least one news organization had been notified he had recently been involved with a woman from Brooklyn. Paterson denied the claim. But a few hours later, Dixon called The Post to say she had received a message from Paterson inquiring about whether she was talking to the press.