Leeds Talent Hub athlete spotlight: Alexandra Bell

Team GB star Alexandra Bell originally attended Leeds Beckett in 2014, graduating with a degree in BA (Hons) Human Geography before going on to join the University’s Athletics Talent Hub in 2021. Her mentorship with Leeds Beckett University (LBU) coach Andy Henderson goes back too, being under his tutorage for six years Alex expresses a huge amount of gratitude for Andy’s help in the trajectory of her track career.

“Andy is a wonderful human who gives so much time and knowledge to many people,” she says. “Even though I had been competing at a decent level prior to meeting Andy, I truly owe everything in these recent years to him. The work, time, and patience he has given.”

Alex continues, “I think he would agree that we have both learnt a lot from each other and been challenged on numerous occasions. As we all know, there are many ups and downs in this sport, but we’ve equally shared just as many rewarding times too.”

The 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games were Alex’s first UK championships, an event she fondly remembers as extremely relaxed and enjoyable. Being a competition on home ground, she remarked that the spectators were the loudest she had ever experienced before.

Yet, it is the 2022 Tokyo Olympics which stand out as her most notable career moment, having been a dream since childhood and coming to fruition somewhat unexpectantly. “From originally not being in the team, to a last-minute call up, to then becoming an Olympic Finalist with a UK all-time listing, it was beyond a dream in the end!” she explains. “There was really no time to even consider nerves or pressure and I just relished every step I took.”

“The previous year was very difficult for so many people with Covid restrictions in place all over the UK. It just simply wouldn’t have been possible without the support from the Talent Hub team.”

Alex is currently undertaking an intense training period to prepare for an eventful summer of competing. This year her main focus is the World Championships, with Alex’s sights set on qualifying to represent Great Britain in Budapest later this year.