Georgia Bell Takes Stunning Bronze in Paris
Local athlete runs 'perfect perfect' race to smash national record
Georgia Bell realises what has just happened. Picture: BBC
August 10, 2024
The final night of athletics in Paris this Saturday (10 August) saw local runner Georgia Bell pull off a major surprise in the final of the 1500 metres, winning an Olympic bronze medal.
The Chiswick-raised 30-year-old, who attended St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Primary, Sacred Heart and Cardinal Vaughan schools, completed one of the most amazing comebacks in athletics history. Less than two years ago she had been doing parkruns in Gunnersbury Park to improve her fitness.
At that point competing in the Olympics seemed laughable but she not only made selection for Team GB but also smashed the national record in the final at the Stade de France. Her run was the 11th fastest ever 1500 metres by a woman.
The first lap went off at an unsustainable pace but Georgia chose to stay with the leading group while the other Team GB athlete, Laura Muir, took a more measured pace hoping to catch up as other runners faded.
However, the pace remained high and Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon finished first in a new Olympic record of 3:51.29. This was the third consecutive Gold in the event for the World Athlete of the Year, the first time in history any athlete has achieved this in the 1500 metres.
The remaining two medals were between three athletes including Georgia and she pulled into third in the final 100 metres closing fast on the second placed Jessica Hull of Australia. In commentary Olympic gold medallist described Georgia as running the ‘perfect perfect race’. Georgia’s time was a new national record of 3:52.61.
Georgia embraces her family after the race
Georgia said in her post-race interview, “I don’t know if I’ve ever been this happy. That was an absolutely crazy race. I thought that today. I woke up really calm and in a really good mood and I just thought.. I’m not the fastest person in that race but I thought if I was brave and just got stuck in then I’d make something special happen. I’m over the moon, Olympic medal.”
While watching the Tokyo Olympics, her mother had pointed out to her that she had previously competed against some of the athletes participating.
Having been a prodigiously talented junior and gone to an American university to participate in an athletics programme a series of injuries had led to her abandoning competitive running and she had embarked on a career in cyber security.
Lockdown provided her with the opportunity to rediscover her love of athletics and she started competing in duathlon events (cycling and running). Her times were such that coaches Trevor Painter and Jennie Meadows took her on, meaning that she was training alongside Keely Hodgkinson.
After the race she ran straight over to her family and her coaches to embrace them and thank them for their support in her unlikely quest.
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