Jessica Hull has become the first Australian women to win an Olympic medal in the 1500m, earning the silver behind world record-holder and triple gold medallist Faith Kipyegon at the Paris Games.

Hull, 27, is also the first Australian to win a middle distance medal for over half a century, since Ralph Doubell won gold in the 800m in Mexico City in 1968.

Kipyegon, the best female 1500m runner in history, set an Olympic record of 3:51.29 to win her third title, and Hull hung tough down the straight to fight off the challenge from Britain’s Georgia Bell, crossing the finish line second in 3:52.56, her second fastest time.

This is the seventh athletics medal won by the Australian team in Paris, making this the most successful athletics team to compete at an overseas Olympics. The record of 12 medals is held by the 1956 Melbourne team.

Hull has been an athlete transformed since her fourth place finish at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow in March, intent on getting herself onto the podium at global level.

She said that near-miss “lit a fire” inside her at the right time, with the Olympics just five months away. She felt she had run too conservatively in Glasgow, reacting to the fastest women rather than running to her own strengths, and vowed to race more aggressively in future. She was true to her word.

When Kipyegon broke the 1500m world record at the Paris Diamond League in early July, Hull was the only athlete who tried to go with her and her reward was a huge personal best and Australian record (3:50.83), which lifted her to No 5 on the world all-time list.

She backed that up by breaking the world record over 2000m in Monaco in her last race before she arrived in Paris, to confirm her stunning form.

More to follow.