World Duathlon Age Group Champion signs with Nike in order to chase Olympic dream

Georgia Bell, who won the 30-34 Female AG last year at the World Duathlon Championships in Ibiza, announced last week that she has signed a professional contract with Nike.

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

Balancing a job in cyber security with her athletics, the 30-year-old will now set her sights on the Olympic Qualifying standards as she bids to represent Team GB in Paris this summer.

“It’s been a rollercoaster few months”

Having won the overall category as well as her age group in Ibiza, Bell turned her attention to the track last summer and recorded some impressive times, clocking 4:12.16 for the 1500m and 9:06.63 for the 3000m.

This winter, however, came the real breakthrough for the Brit, as Bell won the British Indoor Championship, finished fourth at the World Indoor Championship in Glasgow and came within a second of the OQT in the 1500m, running 4:03.22 in Sweden.

Announcing her partnership with Nike on Instagram, @georgiabelltheduathlete as she is known online detailed the crazy story that saw her go from unsponsored to backed by one of the biggest companies in the world in a matter of months.

“I started this indoor season unsponsored and unranked, emailing meet organisers begging for a spot to race. Thank you so much to @indoormeetingdortmund who took a chance on me which changed everything. 

“After that my times got faster, my opportunities opened up, I became a British Champion and made the World final where I just missed a medal. It’s been a rollercoaster few months. I’m beyond excited for the future with Nike and what we can achieve together.”