Cycling, Crystals, and Cutting-Edge Science: The Secrets of Hodgkinson and Hunter Bell's Success
Trevor Painter and Jenny Meadows, the husband-and-wife coaching team behind the gold medal triumphs of Keely Hodgkinson and Georgia Hunter Bell at the World Indoor Championships in Torun, Poland, believe the best is yet to come for the dynamic duo. Their success, which saw three British golds in 29 minutes, has been hailed as a "towering moment" for UK Athletics by Sebastian Coe, president of World Athletics.
The Coaching Philosophy: Art, Science, and Flexibility
Painter and Meadows employ a bespoke approach that blends rigorous programming with personal flexibility. "Trevor does all the programming and he's absolutely brilliant," says Meadows. "There can be seven different training sessions going on within the same session because everyone's so bespoke." This tailored method accommodates Hodgkinson's free-spirited nature and Hunter Bell's analytical style, ensuring both athletes thrive.
Key to their strategy is minimizing long, slow running to reduce impact. Instead, athletes use cycling, swimming, or elliptical machines for aerobic work. "As long as they're giving me, say, 45 minutes on a bike, it's as good as 30-35 minutes of running, but without the impact," Painter explains. This approach keeps sessions sharp and effective.
Innovative Elements: From Crystals to Cycling
Hodgkinson's use of Himalayan salt crystals to stay calm highlights the coaches' focus on athlete well-being. "It's about making the human happy," says Painter. "If they're in a happy place they're going to perform well." Additionally, Hodgkinson has embraced cycling on easy endurance days, often extending one-hour sessions to 90 minutes. "We've had to rein her back," Meadows notes, but it enhances her enjoyment and longevity in the sport.
Support from Nike has provided access to physiotherapist Alison Rose, who manages Hodgkinson's hamstring issues, and physiologist Rachel McCormick, formerly of the Australian Institute of Sport. McCormick's work has revealed the athletes' exceptional recovery rates, surprising even her with their ability to sustain high-intensity training.
A Dynamic Duo with Bright Futures
Hodgkinson and Hunter Bell push each other in training, with Hodgkinson offering more speed and Hunter Bell excelling in speed endurance. "They elevate each other," says Painter. Despite their competitive nature, they remain great friends. Hodgkinson's recent performances, including a world indoor 800m record and a swift 400m relay leg, suggest even greater peaks ahead, possibly challenging the outdoor world record set in 1983.
Painter attributes this to Hodgkinson's first fully healthy championship since Budapest 2023. "This year she's not missed a session," he says. "So we're seeing times she normally does in summer already." With continued support from their coaching team and innovative methods, the future looks exceptionally bright for these British stars.
