Georgia Hunter Bell credited a pre-race video call from fellow middle-distance runner Keely Hodgkinson for the confidence she needed to secure gold in the women’s 800 meters at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Hunter Bell led from the front to outperform Kenyan world champion Lilian Odira, completing a set of major championship medals within just two years.

Last year at the World Championships in Tokyo, Hunter Bell won silver behind Odira, while Olympic champion Hodgkinson took bronze. Despite their friendly relationship, Hunter Bell noted the competitive nature between them on the track. “We’re great friends, but when we step onto the start line we’re competitors. I don’t think that’s strange at all. We both want to win. We push each other and make each other faster,” she said. Hodgkinson, who chose not to compete at the Commonwealth Games, had contacted Hunter Bell prior to the race to share encouragement and was also the first person Hunter Bell communicated with after her victory.

Hunter Bell, 32, only returned to full-time athletics two years ago after rediscovering her passion during the pandemic. Her career had taken a detour in her early twenties when she stepped away from competitive running, pursuing a role in cyber-security tech sales while enjoying a more typical social life. Reflecting on her podium moment at Scotstoun, she described it as an emotional experience tied closely to her journey back to athletics. “I feel sorry for that version of me at 23 or 24, when I’d almost given up and didn’t really know what I was doing with my life, but also incredibly proud that I came through it and found my way back here,” she said. Hunter Bell called the decision to leave her job two years ago a “Sliding Doors moment” that turned out to be the best choice for her career and personal fulfillment.

Looking ahead, Hunter Bell plans to compete in the 1,500 meters at the European Championships in Birmingham later this month. Although her coaches are still debating whether the 800 meters or 1,500 meters remains her best event, she ruled out doubling up at the Europeans this year due to the physical and emotional demands. “I’d love to do the double one day, but this year we’ve decided to focus on the 1,500m,” she noted.

Hunter Bell’s rapid rise in international middle-distance running has established her as a formidable contender, with six major championship medals both indoors and outdoors. Her recent performances suggest she will continue to be a prominent figure in forthcoming championships.