Georgia Bell marks incredible athletics comeback with Olympic bronze

Athletics 10 Aug 24

Just three years after returning to the sport, Georgia Bell stormed to 1500m bronze in a new national record.

The 30-year-old clinched a maiden Olympic medal in a brilliant time of 3:52.61, which also put her within the previous Olympic record to become the 11th fastest woman of all time.

And it looked like a Parisian medal was written in the stars for Bell, who was born in the French capital.

Team GB's Laura Muir, who won silver in the event at Tokyo 2020, finished fifth in a new personal best of 3:53.37.

"I don’t know if I’ve ever been this happy," she said.

"That was an absolutely crazy race. I woke up this morning really calm and in a very good mood and thought I’m not the fastest person in that race but if I was brave and got stuck in then I can make something happen.

"So yeah over the moon and I’m an Olympic medallist."

It was watching Muir from her sofa during Tokyo that was one of the inspirations for Bell to return to the sport, having previously given it up after suffering a succession of injuries while studying at the University of California.

A supremely talented middle distance runner as a junior, Bell started taking part in parkrun again during the Covid pandemic and rediscovered her love for running.

Bell was never out of contention in the Stade de France, sticking with the leading group of Faith Kipyegon, Jessica Hull and Diribe Welteji through a fast opening few laps.

And with just the home straight to go, Bell kicked on and overtook Welteji in a brilliant final few moments, challenging for silver but pipped on the line by Hull as Kipyegon took gold in a new Olympic record.

Bronze now marks the end of an incredible comeback journey for Bell.

“I am so happy I came back to this sport," she said. "Mainly, I’m happy with what running has given me.

"Obviously it’s amazing to be at the Olympics but when I took up running again, the goal wasn’t to make the Olympics, that would have been absolutely bonkers at the time, it was coming back to something that I really loved and taking the time away showed I really love it, I love it being part of my life."

Earlier in the night, there was Team GB action in the men's 800m and 500m.

Max Burgin became the first man since London 2012 to make the 800m final by racing a new personal best in his semi-final. The 22-year-old went on to clock his third fastest time in a speedy final to finish eighth.

George Mills then went in the 5000, clocking a time of 13:32.32 in his first-ever Olympic final.

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