Georgia Bell, the Olympic 1500m bronze medallist, is set to compete in her 28th race of the year at the Podium 5k event in Battersea Park on December 31. After an exceptional 2024 season, Bell will look to improve her 5k personal best of 16:34, with ambitions to break this mark in optimal conditions.
Bell’s season reached a crescendo at the Diamond League final in Brussels, where she completed an impressive 800m/1500m double at the Memorial Van Damme meet. She clocked 1:57.94 in the 800m, securing second place behind world champion Mary Moraa, and followed it up with a 3:58.95 in the 1500m. Reflecting on her hard-earned success, Bell said, “That’s a wrap,” after her 27th race of the year. Her journey to this point began with a determination to race at the highest level, sending emails to meet directors to secure a spot in competitive fields.
Bell’s incredible year included several standout performances: UK indoor and outdoor 1500m champion, European silver medalist, and a British record-breaking Olympic bronze medal in 3:52.61. Her recent training has been focused on building endurance for the 2025 season in Potchefstroom, South Africa, where she continues to work under coaches Trevor Painter and Jenny Meadows, alongside Olympic medalists like Keely Hodgkinson and Lewis Davey.
Her story is one of resilience and unwavering belief. After battling injuries and losing her passion for the sport during her time at the University of California, Bell was inspired to return to athletics by the Tokyo Olympics. A breakthrough 16:14 parkrun in 2022 reignited her passion, leading her to contact her former coach, Painter. Now a full-time athlete, Bell is focused on achieving even greater success in 2025.
With the 2024 season closing out with the Battersea 5k, Bell is determined to finish strong and set the stage for future triumphs. Looking ahead, she’s excited for the future: “I want to see what I can do with a couple of years being full-time. I’m really excited for next year and there’s still a lot we can add and improve on.”
