Hull Wins Silver in 1500m at Olympics

In a historic moment for Australian athletics, Jessica Hull secured the silver medal in the women’s 1500m final at the Stade de France during the Olympics. This victory marks Hull as the first Australian woman to earn an Olympic medal in this event.

At 27 years old, Hull finished strong with a time of 3:52.56, making it the second-fastest time recorded by an Australian woman in history. After placing 11th in Tokyo three years ago, her performance this time around is truly a breakthrough.

Throughout the race, Hull ran valiantly, staying close to reigning champion Faith Kipyegon from Kenya, who ultimately took gold. In the final stretch, Hull managed to push past Ethiopia‘s Diribe Welteji and narrowly beat Britain’s Georgia Bell to snag that coveted silver.

After her incredible performance, Hull expressed her joy, saying, “I don’t even know what to say, I’m just so proud.” She mentioned the overwhelming support she received leading up to the race, highlighting a touching message from her mother who sent her a nostalgic photo from her Little Athletics days.

Earlier this year, Hull set a world record in the 2000m, showcasing her impressive abilities. The only other Australians to have won Olympic medals in the 1500m were Edwin Flack, John Landy, and Herb Elliott, as this event was only added to the women’s Olympic program in 1972.

Hull believes that her success may open doors for future Australian middle-distance runners, stating, “The floodgates will probably open, there’s a lot of talent coming through.” In March, she revamped her training strategy to focus on improving her final lap, which clearly paid off.

This thrilling race also saw the first four runners breaking the previous Olympic record. Kipyegon finished with a time of 3:51.29, achieving her third consecutive gold medal in the event, a feat previously only matched by sprint legend Usain Bolt.

Australia has achieved a remarkable seven medals in track and field events during these Olympics, making it the nation’s best athletics haul since the 1956 Melbourne Games. While Kathryn Mitchell and Mackenzie failed to medal in the women’s javelin, Hull’s silver is a monumental win for the country.