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Bell quit athletics in 2017, but reversed her decision in 2021 after she watched Faith Kipyegon dominating the 1500 meters at the Tokyo Olympics.
Great Britain’s Georgia Bell has explained how watching Faith Kipyegon dominating at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics from home fueled her to fulfil her Olympic dream in Paris.
Bell clinched a bronze medal in the 1500 meters on Saturday, marking a triumphant return to the track after a surprising career hiatus.
Bell’s performance was one of three bronze medals for Great Britain on the final night of track and field at Paris 2024, contributing to the team’s celebratory atmosphere.
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09:30 - 11.08.2024
Faith Kipyegon speaks on how setback strengthened her 1500m three-peat at Olympics
Faith Kipyegon overcame a challenging setback in the 5000m to clinch her historic third consecutive Olympic title in the 1500m.
Her Olympic debut was nothing short of sensational as she broke the British record with a time of three minutes 52.61 seconds, finishing behind Kipyegon, who claimed her third consecutive Olympic title.
Reflecting on her journey, Bell reflected on when she had given up her Olympic dream, quitting athletics in 2017 to pursue a full-time career in cyber security.
“There were a lot of athletes in Tokyo I used to race when I was younger like Alex Bell and Katy Snowden so it did probably get me off the couch and get me out going for a run and I am now very happy to be here today,” Bell shared with the press after the race.
She also credited Laura Muir’s silver medal at Tokyo 2020 as a source of inspiration, saying, “For the British side, Laura Muir getting silver there was so inspiring.”
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21:24 - 10.08.2024
Paris 2024 Olympics: History as Faith Kipyegon wins third successive Olympic title in women's 1500m
Faith Kipyegon won her third successive Olympic title at in Paris on Saturday to become the first woman to achieve the feat in the Games' history.
The decision to return to the world of track and field in 2021 was spurred by the success of her fellow athletes and the influence of Kipyegon, who has dominated women’s middle-distance running for over a decade.
“It is always so inspiring. What Faith has done to the sport is just absolutely incredible,” Bell said. “The fact she has obviously done it after being a mother too is just unbelievable.”
Kipyegon’s impact on the sport is undeniable, having won multiple World and Olympic titles and setting World Records that have solidified her status as the greatest 1500m runner of all time.
Bell’s admiration for Kipyegon is clear, as she reflects on how both she and the Kenyan star had taken breaks from athletics in 2017—Kipyegon to become a mother, and Bell to focus on other pursuits.
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11:00 - 11.08.2024
Emmanuel Wanyonyi explains how he beat Marco Arop & Djamel Sedjati to become third fastest man in 800m history
Emmanuel Wanyonyi won Olympic gold in the 800m becoming history's third-fastest runner after outpacing rivals Arop and Sedjati in Paris.
Now 30 years old, Bell’s journey to Olympic success is a testament to her resilience and determination. Despite her success in Paris, Bell remains uncertain about her future in athletics. For now, she plans to return to her job in cyber security, though she acknowledges that her Olympic experience has given her a new perspective on her career.
As for her longer-term plans, Bell remains open to possibilities. "The plan is to go back [to work] but I'm having the best time of my life at the moment," she admitted on a separate interview with BBC.
"Obviously I don’t know what is going to happen this summer. I am really enjoying it, and I think we will just have to stay tuned."
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