Bell won bronze at the Paris Olympic 1500m final after returning to the sport following a four year absence, but now she will be expected to perform constently at a high level despite tough competition from the likes of Faith Kipyegon.
Reigning Olympic 1500m bronze medalist Georgia Bell anticipates that 2025 will be the most challenging year of her career as she sets her sights on dethroning Faith Kipyegon and competing against Jessica Hull to establish herself as the new queen of middle-distance running.
Bell’s 2024 campaign was nothing short of remarkable. After a four-year sabbatical from track and field, she was inspired to make a comeback after witnessing Kipyegon’s dominance at the Tokyo Olympics from her couch at home.
That decision led her to a sensational Olympic debut in Paris, where she shattered the British record with a time of 3:52.61, finishing behind Kipyegon, who secured her third consecutive Olympic gold. Hull claimed silver that night.
Jessica Hull and Georgia Bell finished second and third respectively at the Paris Olympic Games and will meet again in a span of one week in the US in February.
Bell credits Kipyegon’s sustained excellence—especially her ability to dominate even after giving birth to her daughter—as one of the key influences behind her return to the sport.
Now fully committed to her professional career and having cemented herself as a podium contender, Bell acknowledges that 2025 will be an entirely different challenge, with expectations now shifting towards winning and consistently pushing Kipyegon and Hull to their limits.
The British star has already begun her season, competing in the 3,000m event in Boston and the mile race at the Millrose Games.
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Her next focus is the British Indoor Championships, a crucial stepping stone in her pursuit of becoming the world’s leading 1500m runner.
“I think it is going to be a really tough year because everyone will up their game,” Bell told Citius Mag.
“I loved racing last year because I was such an underdog, and for any underdogs out there, you only get it once—so enjoy it. Now, you come to races like these (Millrose 3K event), and the expectation is to win.
“I have still got work to do—lots of areas to improve—but I have got a great team around me, and I am excited for this year.”
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Bell also reflected on the mental shift that comes with rising expectations, admitting that racing as an unknown entity last season provided her with a certain freedom that she may not have in 2025.
“Being an underdog is awesome, and it is so good. You could be in the best shape of your life, but no one is putting pressure on you. Whatever you do is a bonus. In Paris last year, at the Olympic final, I was not nervous at all.
“I was like, ‘If I fall flat on my face and still run under five minutes, I will be grateful to have even made it here.’
“Now I have the British Indoor Champs in a few weeks, and I will be more nervous about that than the Olympic final because the expectation is now to win.”
As Bell prepares for what she believes will be her most demanding year yet, she remains focused on improvement and embracing the new pressures that come with being a top contender. Whether she can challenge Kipyegon’s reign remains to be seen, but one thing is certain—she is no longer the underdog.
