Hull’s sensational 1500m silver rewrites record books
Published Sat 10 Aug 2024
Jessica Hull has backed herself, run magnificently and won silver behind a legend of the sport in the women’s 1500m at the Paris Olympics.
No Australian woman has ever won a medal in this event at the Olympics until now. The pure elation on the face of Hull (NSW, Simon Hull) when she crossed the line was worthy of gold.
"I thought, I just want to run for gold and if I miss, I hope I get a medal,” Jessica said.
"I've wanted this moment for so long and to finally realise it, it was like, oh my goodness I did it.
“I'm just really proud."
Jess was beaten by one of the all-time greats, Faith Kipyegon. The Kenyan world record holder won her third consecutive 1500m Olympic title in a new Olympic record of 3:51.29.
Jess’s time of 3:52.56 was slower then her recent Australian record, but considering she was often boxed in without clear track it was sensational. Georgia Bell (GBR) claimed the bronze with a national record (3:52.61).
“We're getting closer (to Faith) but she's still the next level and she's a triple Olympic champion now.
“If you're gonna get beat by anybody, I'm more than happy for it to be her.
"I'm just excited to be part of history. And I think I might have opened the floodgates for the junior girls back home that are running the 1500."
It was a fast and at times rough race. Jess tried her best to stay positioned near the lead and out of trouble but she got boxed in several times.
With 600 metres to run there were eight women left in contention with the Ethiopians dictating the pace and Faith ready to strike.
Jess was second behind Faith at the bell but the challenges kept coming and with 200 metres to run she was fourth, needing to get off the rail and it was now or never.
“With 200 metres to go I knew it was on. I looked up at the scoreboard and I saw there was four of us there and I was like, I'm not going home empty handed.
"Coming into the straight, I had another glimpse and there's still four of us and I just kept running through the line.
"Even just watching Faith pull away from us. But just knowing the closer I was to her, the closer I was to a medal. It's the best feeling.
"By the last 50 metres I knew that I was gonna get a medal, I just didn't know what colour. And then I honestly didn't quite realise how close Georgia was until I crossed and I kind of put my arms out and she ran straight into them.”
Jess is coached by her dad Simon. So this historic medal is even more special.
“I believed I could do it and dad's always told me, like, why not you?"
"Just to share this with dad is so special and he deserves so much credit. I do truly think he's the best middle distance coach in the world and he deserves a lot of credit for what he's done and the belief he has.
"He's my dad and he believes in me. He's been there since when I first started this sport and he taught me to love it, really. If it wasn't for him, I don't know if I'd still be in the sport because he made it fun.
Earlier in the night it was javelin thrower Kathryn Mitchell (VIC, Uwe Hohn) who stamped her presence in Paris with a fourth consecutive Olympic Final and proceeded to make it four straight top-eight finishes, claiming seventh with a throw of 62.63m.
The throw landed Mitchell just 65cm outside of the medals in a bittersweet event which saw teammate Mackenzie Little (NSW, Angus McEntyre) bow out in 12th place with a 60.32m effort, as the competition was won by Japan’s Haruka Kitaguchi.
“It’s not a goodbye right now but it’s certainly the end of my place in Olympic history,” she said. “Obviously super grateful for my fourth Games, to make my fourth final and then finish top eight and that’s where that’ll finish," Mitchell said.
Stewart McSweyn (TAS, Nic Bideau) added to the finals action with an 18th place finish in the Men’s 5000m, leading at stages of the tactical affair before unable to match the pace of his rivals when stopping the clock in 13:31.38.
Hull’s silver now takes Australia’s athletics medal haul in Paris to seven medals (1 gold, 2 Silver and 4 bronze), surpassing the six medals at Mexico 1968.
Only at the home Games of Melbourne 1956 has Australia had more athletic success.
By Andrew Reid, Athletics Australia and Australian Olympic Committee
Posted 11/08/2024
