Jess Hull's Family Coaching Fuels Olympic Dream and Record-Breaking Form
Australia's middle-distance running queen Jess Hull has embarked on a remarkable run of form on the global stage following her silver medal triumph at the Paris Olympic Games. This surge in performance is deeply intertwined with a bold personal decision: returning to her roots to be coached by her father, Simon Hull.
A Full Circle Coaching Journey
In 2023, Jessica Hull made a career-defining move by relocating back to Australia to resume training under her dad's guidance. Simon Hull first coached his daughter during her early teenage years, but their dynamic has evolved significantly. Now, at 29, Jess collaborates closely with her father in designing her training regimens.
"He's like, 'you're driving this, and I'm supporting it in every way I can. But these are your goals, these are your dreams,'" Hull explains, highlighting the partnership's empowering nature. This familial bond extends beyond typical coach-athlete relationships, creating an intuitive connection that borders on mind reading.
Consistent Success on the World Stage
Since reuniting with her father-coach, Hull has achieved extraordinary results:
- Olympic silver medal in the 1500m at Paris 2024
- Three world championships bronze medals
- World record in the 2000m (5:19.70) at Monaco Diamond League
- Eight national records across various distances
- Gold medal at the World Athletics Cross-Country Championships in Florida
- Silver in the prestigious Wanamaker Mile at the Millrose Games
Her breakthrough 1500m time of 3:50.83 at the Paris Diamond League in 2024 and 800m record of 1:57.15 at the Tokyo world championships demonstrate her versatility, particularly impressive given her relative newness to the 800m distance.
Building a Professional Support System
The Hulls have methodically professionalized their training setup in Newcastle, incorporating regular physiotherapy, massage treatments, altitude training, and strategic pacing partnerships with male athletes in their early twenties. When preparing for major championships, Jess brings her pacers abroad, providing transformative experiences for emerging athletes.
Her husband, Daniel Jolliffe, has joined the circuit full-time for the past year, providing crucial support during training sessions. "You need your support person around you," Hull emphasizes, noting how he assists with pacing and accompanies her on easy runs.
Managing Expectations and Inspiring the Next Generation
Public expectations soared following Hull's personal best in the 1500m and world record in the 2000m just before Paris 2024. The spotlight intensified when she became the first Australian woman in history to win an Olympic 1500m medal.
"You've obviously got a little bit more of a spotlight, so if you fail it feels really bright, but it also makes you a better athlete, because you're exploring what's possible," she reflects.
While new sponsorships and partnership opportunities have emerged, Hull has noticed competitors now expect her to set the pace in races. This earned status has deepened her respect for athletes like Kenya's Faith Kipyegon, the 1500m world record-holder and three-time Olympic gold medalist.
Rather than fixating on defeating specific rivals, Hull focuses on self-improvement: "I'm focused on just 'being one better' than I was in Paris. It's a simple way of not screaming from the rooftops, 'I want to win the Olympic gold medal!' Because I do. But when you say it like that, it's really intimidating."
Inspiring Australia's Running Renaissance
Hull's impact extends beyond her personal achievements as running participation surges across Australia. She embraces this responsibility, recalling her own childhood experiences collecting autographs at local track meets. While showing her Olympic medal to Little Athletics participants in Gladstone, she realized the twenty years of wholehearted commitment required to reach her current level.
"Having a lot of ownership over my career in the last couple of years has definitely made that even sweeter. It's like, I did that ... I made the changes that I needed to make to give myself a chance," Hull concludes, embodying the power of familial support and personal determination in elite athletics.
