Georgia Bell – 2024, in her own words.

Georgia Bell – 2024, in her own words.

I have already written once about Georgia Bell this year and how a promising junior who had given up serious running returned to win and Olympic medal.

The amazing story of Georgia Bell – runblogrun

She is arguably the athlete of the year in terms to the progress she made. Starting the year as a person with a full-time office job. whose PR was 4:06.20 in the women’s 1500 and then taking over 13 seconds off it during to 2024 to finish with an Olympic medal is a remarkable story. I was privileged to see most of her 2024 races but rather than give you my opinion, let’s have Georgia’s assessment at all points.

In February she ran in the GB Indoor Champs winning in 4:09.66, commenting: “I am really happy with how the race went. I am glad I held the line.  I gave it my all and it went as well as it could have. I am glad I am in PB shape. I am hoping this will give me the World Indoors qualification in a couple of weeks. I would never have expected to qualify for the Olympics but after the start to my season it is definitely in my sight now”.

She made the team for the World Indoors, finishing 4^th in 4:03.47 where her assessment was: “It is a bit disappointing to come so close to the medals and just miss out. I was also just off a PB. I thought the race would at least be fast enough to be pulled around to an Olympic qualifying time, but we were about a second out. I have to just take a moment and reflect on how far I have come. It was a huge deal for me to even make this, so being disappointed with fourth shows that the goal posts keep changing for me. But I am very happy with fourth on my first appearance in a GB vest. I didn’t think I would ever be able to race on a track again, so to come here and perform at such a big home Championships is incredible and I am so happy I have had this experience”.

She was selected for the European Championships in Rome in June taking silver in 4:05.33, after which she spoke from the heart: “It sounds incredible to be a European silver medallist, I cannot stop smiling. I knew it was going to be a tough race up against a really good field. I just couldn’t stop smiling on the start line. This is just so fun to be here. I should be at work tomorrow morning, but I’m here competing at European Championships, so I am very happy. Even six months I would have thought you were crazy if you told me I’d…