Georgia Bell – 2024, in her own words.
I’ve already written about Georgia Bell once this year and how a promising youngster who had given up on serious running came back to victory and an Olympic medal.
The Amazing Story of Georgia Bell – runblogrun
She’s definitely the athlete of the year with the progress she’s made.Starting the year as a full-time office worker, her PR was 4:06.20 in the women’s 1500 and then she’s 13 seconds off finishing with an Olympic medal. I had the privilege of seeing most of his races in 2024, but instead of giving my opinion, let’s have Georgia’s assessment on all points.
In February he ran at the GB Indoor Champs, winning in 4:09.66, commenting:I’m really happy with the way the race went. I gave it my all. I’m glad I’m in PB condition in a few weeks. I never expected to qualify for the Olympics, but after the start of my season, it’s definitely in my sights now.”
He made the team for him World Indoors, finish 4th in 4:03.47, where his score was “It’s a bit disappointing to come so close to the medals and just miss out. I was just off the PB too. I thought the race would at least be fast enough to stretch to Olympic qualifying, but we were about a second off. I just have to take a moment and think about how far I’ve come. It was a huge deal for me to even do that, so being disappointed with fourth shows that the goalposts keep changing for me. But I’m very happy with fourth “From my first appearance in the GB vest. I didn’t think I’d ever be able to run on a track again, so to come here and compete in such a big home championship is incredible and I’m so happy to have had this experience.”
He was selected for the European Championship to be held in Rome in June in 4:05.33, after which he said to his heart: “It feels incredible to be a silver medalist, I can’t stop smiling. I knew it was going to be a tough race. I just couldn’t smile at the start line. I have to be here tomorrow morning at work, but I’m here at the European Championship, so I’m very happy. Even six months later, I would have thought you were crazy if you told me that I’m going to win European silver. I wasn’t ranked, I wasn’t sponsored, the PB was 4:06, which was nothing to get you here. To see where I’m at now, I’m very proud of myself and excited for the future.” :
The Olympics were now a realistic goal, but the GB trials were lined up; 5 athletes already had Olympic standards and only the top two were guaranteed a place. “At the moment it’s amazing and difficult, but I’m sure it will hit me later that I’ve qualified in Paris. I was confident going into today, taking a lot of my silver from the Europeans a few weeks ago. I knew today was going to be really tough, and even though I’ve taken a few years off, I’ve been running since I was 11, so I’m really pumped to get there that my Achilles popped there and I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to compete.”
If the GB trials were a slow race, the Paris Diamond League wasn’t all. Faith Kipyegon won in a world record of 3:49.04. Laura Muir was fifth, going under 4 minutes for the first time with a difference of 3:56.54. “It was amazing. I knew it was going to be a fast race. Everyone was saying it was a fast track, and when Faith Kipyegon was going at it, I was just hoping they could pull me. I felt the energy and a four-second PB.” It’s been an incredible journey and I’ve really grown over the last few months and now I’ve made my first Olympic team, but there’s still a lot to do throughout the season, so I’m very happy seeing hard work pay off.”
Her final race before the Olympics was at the London Diamond League in the 800, in which she was third in 1:56.28 behind Keely Hodgkinson and Gemma Rickey, all three running PRs. His short comment was: “I’m a Londoner so it’s nice to be running in London and I’m loving the experience. The 800m helps me train for the 1500m.”
He reached the Olympic final in two 1:59s and produced the race of his life, beating England’s bronze medal record of 3:52.61.
“I only thought I could win a medal this week. Until I was there, I could close it. The hard part was in the middle where I thought it was going to hurt. But I I knew I had to stand up and finish strong. I can’t believe what happened. I know my training went really well and I know I’ll never be in the same position again without the pressure of games. Participates in: Even the Olympics Getting to the Games is huge.”
She capped off her season at the Diamond League 2-Day Finals in Brussels with a second-place finish in the 800 in 1:57.50 as she wrapped up her race and remarkable season; ), but you know he’s finishing so fast and I’m glad we’re still running 1:57 at the end of the season. Honestly, I’ve never been in a diamond league before : I just know that there is so much going on behind the scenes. A year ago, I would never have believed that I would take second place here. A lot has changed in the last six months. Just keep going, even if it’s an unconventional path, it doesn’t mean it’s impossible, you just keep working and you’ll get there. I’m glad I didn’t give up.”
The following night she returned and ran the 1500m in the Diamond League final, finishing seventh in 3:58.95. Seventh in the Diamond League final would have been beyond his wildest dreams a year ago, it seems average now, but it’s a remarkable achievement to reach two Diamond League finals and run both legs in 24 hours.
I sincerely believe that Georgia is the athlete of the year.
