Search
shop

Former Age Group Duathlon star Georgia Bell reveals her INCREDIBLE journey to Olympic 1500m FAIRYTALE

What a story...how former Age Group Duathlon star Georgia Bell came back from literally nowhere to Olympic Games glory.
Editor-In-Chief
Last updated -
STRENGTH. ENDURANCE. PERFORMANCE.

It’s quite a story – they make movies about stories like this – Georgia Bell is now an Olympic Games medallist.

On Saturday night in Paris, the city of her birth, the 30-year-old British star ran an incredible 3:52:61 to claim a spectacular bronze in the final of the 1500m. The reason why it’s so incredible? Georgia’s journey to get here, and how it very nearly never happened.

The former University of California-Berkley athlete, who was a promising runner before quitting the sport once, has made staggering strides in athletics since returning to the track post-pandemic.

Advertisement

From nowhere, to Olympic glory

Having won the World Duathlon Championship title in 2023, when she represented the British age-group team in Ibiza, Bell’s athletics went from strength to strength. Earlier this year, she also signed a professional contract with Nike.

Balancing a job in cyber security with her athletics career, Bell had already performed heroics this summer by claiming 1500m silver in the European Athletics Championships in Rome in June. But she took things to a whole new level in Paris on Saturday with that brilliant Olympics bronze.

Georgia was within .05 of a second of claiming silver as she came home a whisker behind Australia’s Jessica Hull, with Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon claiming gold with a new Olympic Record of 3:51:29.

A couple of short years ago this would have seemed utterly unthinkable, it’s a story which is worth retelling, and one which Georgia recounted in a post-race interview with Eurosport.

“I’m in shock. I didn’t realise how quick it was until the end. I knew it was hurting but I was obviously just trying to focus on crossing the line top three. I’m so happy.

Georgia Bell on her fairytale rise

“I just felt coming into this race, it sounds cheesy, but my whole life has been preparing for this. I was born in Paris 30 years ago, I completely quit, I came back, I’m in the shape of my life and I just had no pressure. And I was like, If it’s ever gonna happen, it will be today, so like just be brave and see what happens.”

Georgia spoke about the moment when she quit the sport, the disappointment which came with that, and also the joy at being able to grab a second chance in such incredible fashion.

“My last race in NCAA, I finished, and I’d run a 4:30 for a 1500 – which is not good. I was just like ‘I’m so done with this’ and it was like I knew I’d never achieve my potential, it was sad, and I thought ‘that’s it now’.

“But then through COVID, through other things, I got back into it. It’s just nice to know that you can still have dreams when you grow up and it’s never too late to go back to something you love.”

Graham Shaw
Written by
Graham Shaw
Graham has been involved with TRI247 & RUN247 since the summer of 2021. Since then he has provided strategic direction for all news and is passionate about the growth of triathlon as a fan sport.
Discover more
Challenge The Championship Marjolaine Pieree
How to qualify for Challenge The Championship – and why it should be on your triathlon bucket list
Cadomotus aero triathlon cycling shoes
Can your triathlon cycling shoes make you faster? How shoe choice could speed up your triathlon finish times
French Riviera T100 bike course Esterel
Is this the ultimate middle distance triathlon bike course? We rode the French Riviera T100 bike course and it’s EPIC
Ironman gear guide – everything you need to get to the finish line of a full distance triathlon
Challenge St. Pölten 2024 - image credit Jose Luis Hourcade / Challenge Family
Expert swim coach on the three most common swim mistakes age group triathletes make (and how to fix them!)
latest News
IRONMAN World Championship 2024 Nice Age Group Swim Start
IRONMAN to review World Championship slot allocation model after fears raised for Age Group women
Jonny Brownlee / Jonathan Brownlee - Super League Triathlon London 2023
Did the Brownlee brothers nearly join pro cycling’s Team Sky after 2012 Olympic heroics?
Kristian Hogenhaug interviewed after The Championship 2025
Danish triathlon star highlights blistering bike split as key to The Championship success.
Alistair Brownlee - T100 San Francisco 2024 bike
Olympic triathlon legend Alistair Brownlee completes iconic Gralloch race in latest gravel test
Jeanne Lehair Beth Potter WTCS Yokohama 2025
From Olympic heartbreak to joy of first WTCS win as emotions flow for Jeanne Lehair
triathlon on your terms
Never miss out with our triathlon alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.
The 247 Group

The home of endurance sports

Share to...