Olympic silver medallist Jessica Hull has opened up about how embracing the 'glamorous side of track and field' has been a cornerstone of her success, as she moves past a controversial on-track incident last month.
Appearance and Performance
The 29-year-old middle and long-distance running star takes great pride in her appearance during races as she climbs the world rankings in the 800m, 1000m, 1500m, and 5000m disciplines. She revealed that being fastidious about her looks has helped her excel once the starter's gun fires.
'There's a lot of glamour on the track these days,' Hull told News Corp. 'Everyone will be familiar with [American sprint star] Sha'Carri Richardson, from the hair to the nails ... the eyelashes to just even the pieces of uniform she chooses to race in. There's a lot of opportunity to lean into the glamourous side of track and field.'
Hull, who won silver at the Paris Olympics in 2024, says she dresses up like she's 'going out on the town for the night' before facing her rivals. 'We are quite lucky when we run in that we can express ourselves how we like. I kind of build it into my race-day routine and it helps me feel ready to go, stay excited and get out there. It's kind of like you're going out on the town for the night, from the make-up to the hair, you feel like you're ready to go to war.'
Controversial Incident at Australian Championships
Hull aimed to become the first athlete to win the 800m, 1500m, and 5000m titles at last month's Australian Athletics Championships, but disaster struck during the 1500m event. She tripped after contact with Claudia Hollingsworth on the final straight. Hollingsworth was initially disqualified but reinstated as the winner after an appeal. Hull withdrew from the 800m event but went on to win the 1500m title.
'I set this goal in November. It means a lot to me, and in the moment you're just kind of in shock that it gets taken away,' she said after the 1500m victory. The NSW south coast product has now given fans another insight into her mindset at the time. 'I knew my next race wasn't until May 16th, and I didn't want to sit with it for another month,' Hull said. 'I wanted to get back out there, get a move on, and focus on what's to come for the rest of the year rather than dwell on it.'
Future Goals
Hull's next challenge is the Commonwealth Games in July and August, but she already has her sights set on the Brisbane Olympics in 2032. 'Before Brisbane was announced, I probably wouldn't have anticipated going beyond 2028 but now we're seeing men and women – especially in the 1500m – stay on the track a bit longer,' she said. 'I'm going to be 31 in LA [the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics] and Brisbane doesn't seem as far-fetched now.'
