Georgia Bell Wins Olympic Bronze in 1500m

Georgia Bell, 30, celebrated a stunning achievement at the Stade de France, securing a bronze medal in the 1500 metres at her Olympic debut. Reflecting on her “unconventional route” to the podium, Bell described her journey as once seeming “bonkers.” Her victory contributed to a successful night for Team GB, which also saw medals awarded in the men’s and women’s 4x400m relays, bringing the total to five medals from five relay finals in Paris. Bell's path to the Olympics was not straightforward. Initially a promising youth talent, she stepped away from competitive running around 2017 due to injuries and setbacks while studying at the University of California. During the Covid-19 lockdown, she returned to the sport, motivated by a desire to stay active rather than aiming for Olympic glory. “The goal wasn’t to make the Olympics... just keep going,” she stated, highlighting her unexpected rise back into competitive athletics. In a thrilling race, Bell surged ahead in the final 100 metres, overtaking Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji to clinch the bronze, while Scotland’s Laura Muir finished fifth. Bell expressed gratitude for the support she received, noting that many have been inspired by her story to revisit their own sports and hobbies. As she prepares for future competitions, Bell acknowledges the shift in expectations that comes with being an Olympic medallist, stating, “I’ll be an Olympic medallist and people will be expecting things.”