Georgia Hunter Bell is set to take center stage at the European Athletics Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn, Netherlands, as Great Britain’s leading medal contender. With a stunning track record over the past year, the Olympic bronze medallist aims to claim her first major international gold in the 1500m event.
Aiming for Gold and a British Record
Hunter Bell enters the competition as the fastest European woman over 1500m this year. The 31-year-old has already made it clear she has two major goals: securing a podium finish and possibly rewriting history by breaking Laura Muir’s British indoor record of 3:59.58.
“I would love to run a fast time and I do have half an eye on the British record,” she told BBC Sport. “But championship racing is about the podium, not the time, so we will see if the opportunity presents itself this weekend.”
The heats on Thursday mark the first step in her campaign, with the final scheduled for later in the weekend. A strong showing could solidify her as one of the brightest stars of the British team.
The Challenge Ahead
Great Britain secured third place in the medal standings at the previous European Indoor Championships in 2023, winning three gold medals and six overall. However, the 42-strong British squad for this year’s event is missing several of its top performers, including Keely Hodgkinson, Laura Muir, and Jazmin Sawyers.
Additionally, world indoor pole vault champion Molly Caudery has withdrawn from the event to focus on the upcoming World Indoor Championships, citing a minor calf issue. These absences place even more pressure on Hunter Bell to deliver a standout performance.
Meanwhile, on the men’s side, Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen is looking to extend his European indoor dominance. If successful, he will secure his seventh European indoor gold medal with a third consecutive 1500m and 3,000m double.
The Hunter Bell Phenomenon
Few could have predicted Hunter Bell’s meteoric rise in the past year. She was an underdog heading into the 2024 season but stunned the athletics world with a series of breakthrough performances.
- Won a 1500m bronze at the Paris 2024 Olympics with a British record time of 3:52.61.
- Secured her first international medal at the outdoor European Championships in Rome.
- Claimed victory at the prestigious Millrose Games in New York over the mile distance.
- Successfully defended her British indoor 1500m title.
Her season-best of 4:00.63 is nearly three seconds faster than any other competitor in the Apeldoorn field. With that kind of form, she is not just a medal contender—she is the favorite.
Adapting to the Pressure of Being the Favorite
For Hunter Bell, this season is about more than just speed. It is about adjusting to a new reality where she is expected to win rather than chase an upset.
“Last year I was very much the underdog,” she said. “This year I’m going into competitions expected to win, which is a big mental adjustment.”
Training under Trevor Painter and Jenny Meadows—alongside Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson—she has built a foundation of both physical strength and mental resilience. That will be crucial as she navigates the pressures of high expectations.
Innovation on the Track
This year’s European Indoor Championships will feature wavelight technology for the first time. The LED pacing system, embedded inside the track, has been approved for competitive use by European Athletics. While it will not be used as a direct aid to athletes, its inclusion marks a significant moment in track and field innovation.
For Hunter Bell, the focus remains on her own race. Whether she chases the lights or leads from the front, she is primed for a defining moment in her career.
