Olympian Jessica Hull’s record-breaking year sparks Little Athletics boom

At any other Olympic games, Jessica Hull would be returning home with a gold medal around her neck.

But she had to run the race in front of her.

In the final of the 1,500 metres at Paris, Hull was up against the greatest ever middle-distance runner – Faith Kipyegon.

She did everything right; shaved ten seconds off her previous Olympic time and even ran faster than Kipyegon did when she won gold in Tokyo.

Hull was fast, the Kenyan was faster.

Rounding the turn into the last hundred metres with her rival in front, the 27-year-old had one thing on her mind.

“I was just so focused on ‘I am getting a medal’, I didn’t really have any understanding of the time,” she said.

She crossed the finish line in second place, becoming the first Australian to win a medal in the event.

It capped a remarkable season for the runner which included setting a new world record in the 2,000 metres at the Diamond League in Monaco.

Hull ended the year with 15 podium finishes.

Athletics Australia nicknamed her the smiling assassin after her record-breaking year.

It is an clear reference to the runner’s sunny disposition and ruthlessness on the track.

Athletics interest soars

Hull has returned to where her Olympic dream started — her hometown of Albion Park on the New South Wales south coast.

“I remember winning my first state title in the under 12s and it fuel the dream of maybe I can go to the Olympics one day,” she said.

Her junior club, Albion Park Little Athletics, has become a breeding ground for Olympians.

They have included fellow middle-distance runners Jye Edwards and Ryan Gregson.

Hull said Gregson making the final of the 1,500 metres in Rio de Janeiro was a turning point for Australians targeting that event.

“I think that was huge for the sport in Australia, to see an Australian make that final,” she said.

Australia won seven medals at the Paris games, its best track and field performance since the Melbourne games in 1968.

Hull said the games showed Australians could be competitive across athletics.

“Our medals were so widespread that I think it is a good advertisement for little A’s,” Hull said.

“Come down and try it and find your event.”

Little Athletics memberships have climbed more than 20 per cent this year in the Illawarra.

More than 45,000 kids have signed up across the state.

The grass track where Hull trained as a kid hasn’t changed much since she first began her journey.

But young athletes inspired by Hull’s exploits are turning up with dreams of following in her footsteps.

Chelsea Nicol, 14, is turning heads by breaking records set by Hull.

“Seeing her on TV running at such a high level and actually succeeding at what all us athletes are dreaming about is really cool,” she said.

Meanwhile, 11-year-old Brooklyn McWilliams was inspired watching the Paris games to pursue her own Olympic dream.

“I watched it, and I was like, ‘I want to be like her when I grow up,” she said.

Aiming for gold

Hull has resumed her training program with another busy year of events on the cards.

After narrowly missing out on gold, her ultimate goal is Los Angeles 2028.

“It is crazy how quickly your mind goes to “I want a gold now’,”  Hull said.

“It is no easy feat and just because you want it, there is a lot of work to do to put you in the position to do that.”

She said Australia would be competitive for years to come, with a home Olympics on the horizon.

“I hope I’ve shown those girls that yes there is a medal in the middle distances,” she said.