Junior athletics participation is soaring in Olympic silver medallist Jessica Hull's home town where kids are being driven by their idol's historic success.
Jess Hull has returned home to Illawarra after a record-breaking year winning a silver in the 1,500 metres at the Paris Olympics .At any other Olympic games, Jessica Hull would be returning home with a gold medal around her neck.In the final of the 1,500 metres at Paris, Hull was up against the greatest ever middle-distance runner – Faith Kipyegon .
"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.Athletics Australia nicknamed her the smiling assassin after her record-breaking year.Hull has returned to where her Olympic dream started — her hometown of Albion Park on the New South Wales south coast.
Hull said Gregson making the final of the 1,500 metres in Rio de Janeiro was a turning point for Australians targeting that event.Australia won seven medals at the Paris games, its best track and field performance since the Melbourne games in 1968."Our medals were so widespread that I think it is a good advertisement for little A's," Hull said.Jess Hull shares her silver medal with Brooklyn McWilliams and Chelsea Nicol, two young runners hoping to follow in her footsteps.
Little Athletics Faith Kipyegon Jessica Hull 1500 Metres
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