Hunter Bell Edges Out Hodgkinson as GB Claim 800m Silver and Bronze
In a heart-pounding display of grit and rivalry, Georgia Hunter Bell outlasted Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson to secure a British medal sweep in the women’s 800m final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. The duo’s push for a dream one-two finish was narrowly thwarted by Kenya’s Lilian Odira, who stormed to gold and shattered the championship record. This electrifying 800m showdown not only highlighted the depth of British middle-distance talent but also capped a resilient campaign for Great Britain and Northern Ireland on the final day of the event.
Hunter Bell, making a remarkable comeback after a five-year hiatus from the sport, timed her surge perfectly to claim silver in a personal best of 1:54.90—just 0.28 seconds behind Odira’s blazing 1:54.62. Hodgkinson, her training partner and close friend, crossed the line a mere one-hundredth of a second later for bronze. At 23, Hodgkinson entered as the favorite, fresh off her Paris 2024 Olympic triumph, but injuries had plagued her season. Still, this podium finish marked her fifth successive global medal, a testament to her unyielding spirit.
The two medals boosted GB’s championship tally to five, matching their 2019 Doha haul but falling short of higher expectations. It was a bittersweet end to an event where British hopes for a historic one-two in the 800m—echoing the 2007 success of Christine Ohuruogu and Nicola Sanders—hung in the balance until the final stride.
A Tense 800m Final: Rivals Turned Teammates
Under the sweltering Tokyo sun, the 800m final unfolded like a tactical chess match, blending strategy with raw athleticism. Both Hunter Bell and Hodgkinson, coached by the dynamic husband-and-wife duo of Trevor Painter and Jenny Meadows, had prepared meticulously. They shared training sessions, hotel rooms at the British team’s holding camp, and even impromptu drills in the corridors to beat the heat. Their bond was unbreakable—until the gun fired.
Odira took control early, setting a punishing pace that tested the field. Hunter Bell, 31 and in her first full season as a professional athlete after ditching her cybersecurity job, stayed composed. Having switched back to the 800m from shorter distances this year, she channeled her experience to hold position. Hodgkinson, battling a recent stomach bug as revealed by GB head coach Paula Dunn, fought through visible discomfort but couldn’t quite close the gap in the homestretch.
The photo finish between the British pair captured the drama: Hunter Bell’s desperate lean edged her ahead by a whisper. I knew it would be fast, Hunter Bell said post-race. I just told myself, ‘Don’t get dropped—hang on for the kick.’ Her words understated the emotional rollercoaster of a race that saw her upgrade her Olympic bronze from the previous year.
Hodgkinson, ever the optimist, reflected on the bittersweet bronze: I’m happy for both of us—we got medals. It’s my third sub-1:55 this season, and after the year I’ve had, consistency like that means a lot. It’s not the gold I wanted, but I can’t be too disappointed. Her resilience shone through, turning potential heartbreak into a story of triumph against adversity.
Hodgkinson’s Battle: A Bronze Worth Gold in the 800m
For Keely Hodgkinson, the 800m has been a proving ground since her teenage breakthrough with Olympic silver in Tokyo four years ago. But this season tested her like never before. A knee injury from before the Paris Olympics sidelined her over winter, followed by two hamstring tears— the second a severe grade three injury after a grueling trip to receive her MBE from Windsor Castle. A 376-day gap between races left her watching rivals from afar, her gym sessions filled with more tears than triumphs, according to Meadows.
Yet, Hodgkinson rebuilt smarter. Dubbed Keely 2.0 by her training group, she focused on strength and power, smashing personal bests in the weight room. Her comeback race five weeks ago set the world’s fastest 800m time of the year, positioning her as the gold contender. In Tokyo, despite the setbacks, she delivered a gritty performance that podiumed her for the fifth straight global championships.
This bronze in the 800m wasn’t just hardware—it was validation. After announcing her return with fireworks, Hodgkinson celebrated alongside Hunter Bell at the very venue of her early stardom. As Meadows noted, Keely’s been our protégé since 17. This is her fifth podium in five majors—we’re so proud. In a field stacked with talent, her ability to podium amid illness and injury cements her as a once-in-a-generation star.
Hunter Bell’s Fairytale Return to the 800m Podium
Georgia Hunter Bell’s journey to this 800m silver reads like a redemption arc scripted for the big screen. A former English Schools champion, she first raced the track 21 years ago but walked away in 2017, burned out. Lockdown reignited her passion for running, leading her to reconnect with Painter at the end of 2022. She was the one that got away, Painter had long lamented, but Bell’s return has been explosive.
Debating between events ahead of Tokyo, she ultimately chose the 800m—her childhood staple—and it paid dividends. After her Olympic bronze last year, this silver marks back-to-back global podiums in her debut full-time season. Quitting her day job post-Olympics allowed undivided focus, and her progress over middle distances this year has been meteoric.
Meadows shared a lighthearted anecdote: When Trevor got that FaceTime from Georgia, I joked, ‘That ship has sailed.’ It came up at her wedding, but she’s forgiven me—I’ve been her biggest fan since. The coaches’ pride extends to both athletes, role models for contrasting paths: Hodgkinson’s steady rise versus Bell’s late-blooming revival.
Bell’s silver not only personal-best her time but also symbolized perseverance. In the 800m final’s chaos, her tactical positioning and final kick proved she’s no flash in the pan. As she builds momentum, expect more from this 31-year-old phenom who’s just getting started.
GB’s 800m Legacy and Looking Ahead
The British one-two-that-almost-was in the 800m underscored the strength of Painter and Meadows’ coaching setup—a pipeline producing podium after podium. While Odira’s gold stole the headlines, Hunter Bell and Hodgkinson’s haul ensured GB ended the championships on a high, even if the overall five-medal tally echoed quieter years like 2005’s Helsinki trio.
This 800m drama reinforces Britain’s middle-distance dominance, blending youth and experience in a sport where every second counts. For fans, it was pure theater: friendship fueling rivalry, setbacks forging steel. As both athletes eye future glory—perhaps a true one-two next time—their stories inspire.
