Personal information | |
---|---|
Full name | Alan Richard Bell |
Nationality | British |
Born | Wakefield, England | 10 June 1957
Sport | |
Sport | Sprinting |
Event | 400 metres |
Alan Richard Bell (born 10 June 1957) is a British sprinter. [1] He competed in the men's 400 metres at the 1980 Summer Olympics. [2]
Bell was a member of the Wakefield Harriers. [3] He started his career in the 100 metres and 200 metres, winning medals at the Yorkshire Athletics Championships and Northern Championships, before moving up to 400 metres. [3] In July 1977, Bell represented Britain in a meeting against France in Nice. [4]
Bell opened his 1978 season with wins over both 100 and 300 metres, highlighting the spring Liverpool Harriers meeting in Kirkby. [5] He first represented the United Kingdom in June 1978, in a dual meet with East Germany in Crystal Palace, London. [3] [6]
By winning the silver medal at the 1980 UK Athletics Championships, he qualified for the Olympics, at which he reached the semi-finals but did not advance to the finals due to a stomach bug. [3]
In 1980, Bell worked at St Thomas' Hospital in Middlesex on weekends. [7]
Bell competed at the 1981 Anniversary Games in a specially-arranged race over 300 metres against Olympic decathlon champion Daley Thompson, hurdler Bill Hartley, and other runners. [8]
At the 1982 West Yorkshire Championships, Bell led the "highlight of the meeting" by running 47.8 seconds to win the 400 metres. [9]
Bell's brother is Roger Bell, silver medalist in the 400 m hurdles at the 1979 UK Athletics Championships. [10] After retiring from athletics, he worked in medicine. [3]