Georgia Hunter Bell has opened up about the moment she realised Kenyan star Lilian Odira was a serious contender in the women’s 800m event. The Australian middle-distance runner, who finished second in the World Athletics Championships final in Tokyo, described Odira as a “dangerous rival” after witnessing her stunning form and composure on the track.
Lilian Odira shocked the athletics world by storming to victory in the Tokyo final, clocking an incredible 1:54.62 — a personal best and a new world record that broke Jarmila Kratochvilova’s 42-year-old mark of 1:54.68 set in 1983. Georgia Hunter Bell and Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson followed closely, finishing second and third with respective times of 1:54.90 and 1:54.91 in what was one of the fastest 800m races in history.
Reflecting on the competition, Georgia Hunter Bell revealed that she first noticed Odira’s potential earlier in the season during the Diamond League Meeting in Silesia. Odira had finished second behind Hodgkinson, posting a time of 1:56.52 — a result that immediately caught the Australian’s attention.
“I saw her run in Silesia, and she looked really strong even though Keely beat her comfortably at the time,” Bell explained. “Then, in Tokyo, her performances in the heats and semifinals were incredibly smooth — 1:57.86 and 1:56.85 — and that’s when I realised she was a serious threat.”
Going into the final, Bell admitted that she knew Odira would be difficult to beat, especially given her confident running style and ability to maintain pace under pressure. The race itself was fiercely contested, with Bell holding strong through the first 600 metres before Odira powered through in the closing stretch to claim gold.
Bell also revealed that she made a tactical error that might have cost her the win. Her coach, Trevor Painter, had advised her to avoid the inside rail — a warning she later regretted not following. “I got a bit boxed in on the inside coming into the home straight. Trev told me not to go on the rail, but it’s hard when you see a gap. I thought I had it for a moment, but Odira was just too strong,” she said.
Despite missing out on gold, Bell praised Odira’s brilliance and composure, calling her victory “well-deserved.” The Kenyan’s record-breaking run marked a new era in women’s middle-distance running and solidified her place among the sport’s elite.
