Bella Pasquali: Australia’s Rising Sprint Sensation

Personal Information

Full Name: Bella Pasquali
Date of Birth: October 4, 2006
Age: 18 years old
Nationality: Australian
Hometown: Wangaratta, Victoria, Australia
Coach: Jason Boulton
World Athletics Code: 14972318

Athletic Profile

Bella Pasquali has emerged as one of Australia’s most exciting young sprint talents, specializing in the 400 meters while maintaining competitive ability in the 200 meters. At just 18 years old, she has already achieved remarkable success on both national and international stages, including becoming a World U20 champion, World Indoor Championships bronze medalist, and winner of Australia’s most prestigious sprint event, the Stawell Gift. Her meteoric rise represents a new generation of Australian sprinting excellence.

Track and Field Specialties

Primary Events

• 400 metres (outdoor and indoor)
• 200 metres
• 4×400 metres relay (outdoor, indoor, and mixed)

Personal Bests and Current Rankings

Current World Rankings:

• #144 globally in women’s 400m

Personal Records:

• 400m Individual: 51.84 seconds (April 12, 2025) – Score: 1133 points
  • Venue: WA Athletics Stadium, Perth, Australia
• 4x400m Relay Short Track (Indoor): 3:32.65 (March 23, 2025) – Score: 1141 points
• 4x400m Relay Outdoor: 3:30.87 (February 1, 2025) – Score: 1131 points
  • Venue: Olympic Park, Sydney, Australia
• 4x400m Mixed Relay: 3:19.27 (August 27, 2024) – Score: 1100 points
  • Australian U20 National Record and Oceanian U20 Record
• 200m: 23.84 seconds (January 27, 2025) – Score: 1051 points

Major International Achievements

World U20 Championships 2024 (Lima, Peru)

Gold Medal – Mixed 4x400m Relay:

• Winning Time: 3:19.27 (Australian U20 National Record, Oceanian U20 Record)
• Team: Jordan Gilbert, Bella Pasquali, Jack Deguara, Sophia Gregorevic
• Dominated the race from early stages, with Bella running a crucial second leg
• Australia’s first global relay victory in 26 years

Silver Medal – Women’s 4x400m Relay:

• Time: 3:31.47
• Team: Amelia Rowe, Bella Pasquali, Jemma Pollard, Sophia Gregorevic
• Finished behind USA (3:30.74) but ahead of strong international field

World Athletics Indoor Championships 2025 (Nanjing, China)

Bronze Medal – Women’s 4x400m Relay:

• Time: 3:32.65 (Season’s Best)
• Team: Ellie Beer, Ella Connolly, Bella Pasquali, Jemma Pollard
• Australia’s first indoor athletics championship medal in 4x400m since 1999
• Ended Australia’s 26-year medal drought in indoor championships

National Championships and Records

Australian Championships Success

• 2025 Australian Championships: 2nd place 400m (51.84 seconds – Personal Best)
• Multiple Australian Junior Championships: Various victories across age groups

Gift Racing Excellence

Stawell Gift 2023 (Easter Monday):

• Winner – Women’s Change Our Game Gift
• Winning Time: 13.545 seconds off handicap of 7.25m
• Prize: AUD $40,000
• At 16 years old, became one of youngest ever winners
• Victory followed in footsteps of parents (father Wally finished 5th in 1990, mother Anna finished 2nd in 2015)

Rye Gift 2023:

• Winner – Part of Victorian Athletics League
• Victory preceded and helped prepare for Stawell Gift success

Youth Championships

• Australian All Schools Championship 2022: Winner U17 400m (Adelaide)
• Multiple Victorian state titles across various age groups

Educational Background and Aspirations

Current Education Status

• Year 11 Student (as of 2023 competition season)
• Balancing elite athletic training with secondary education requirements
• Based in Wangaratta, Victoria, attending local schools

Academic-Athletic Balance

Bella has demonstrated remarkable ability to balance her educational commitments with intensive training and competition schedules. Her success has come while maintaining her studies, showcasing the discipline and time management skills essential for elite athletes.

Future Educational Plans

Note: Specific information about university plans or preferred fields of study is not currently available in public sources. Given her athletic trajectory and age, she will likely need to make decisions about higher education that complement her athletic goals.

Family Athletic Legacy

Parents’ Athletic Background

Father – Wally Pasquali:

• Former competitive athlete
• 5th place finish at 1990 Stawell Gift
• Provides athletic guidance and support

Mother – Anna Pasquali:

• Accomplished 400m runner in her era
• 2nd place at 2015 Stawell Gift (lost to Chloe O’Dwyer)
• Competed in same generation as Tamsyn Lewis Manou
• Personal best over 400m reportedly in low-to-mid 52-second range
• Still holds faster 400m PB than Bella (as of 2023)

Competitive Family Dynamic

Bella has noted the friendly competition with her mother: “She was in Tamsyn’s [Lewis Manou] age group and she always tells me that it was one of the hardest age groups to compete in, but I know that she does have a good 400m time!”

Training and Development

Coaching Philosophy – Jason Boulton

Coach Jason Boulton has been instrumental in Bella’s development, believing she can achieve “world class” status with continued work. His assessment: “She can be as good as anybody I’ve seen… She hasn’t even scratched the surface yet and she’s an Australian champion.”

Training Progression

• Early Development: Through Little Athletics over the past decade
• COVID-19 Impact: Began serious training during pandemic (2020)
• Rapid Improvement: Significant personal bests and progression at state and national levels since 2020

Event Versatility

Bella’s training demonstrates remarkable adaptability:

• 400m Focus: Primary event development for major championships
• Sprint Training: Modified approach for Gift racing preparation
• Relay Specialization: Development of exceptional relay skills and tactics

Career Aspirations and Goals

International Competition Goals

Bella has expressed clear ambitions: “It is a really big dream of mine to compete in the green and gold. I have grown up with athletics, both my parents were runners.”

Immediate Objectives:

• Continued improvement in 400m personal best (targeting sub-51 seconds)
• Senior Australian team selection for major championships
• Commonwealth Games and World Championships representation

Long-term Aspirations:

• Olympic Games participation
• World Championship medals at senior level
• Australian national records in sprint events

Competitive Mindset

Her approach to competition shows maturity: “It’s definitely been a big switch. It’s a completely different event that I’m running at Nationals, so it’s a different mindset and a different gameplan.”

Personal Characteristics and Interests

Competitive Spirit

Bella demonstrates a “love-hate relationship” with the 400m, acknowledging both the challenge and reward of the demanding event. This honest self-assessment shows emotional maturity beyond her years.

Media and Public Relations

She has handled increased media attention with poise, particularly following her Stawell Gift victory and international successes. Her interviews show thoughtful responses and clear communication skills.

Community Connection

Based in Wangaratta, Victoria, Bella maintains strong ties to her local community, which has supported her journey from local athletics to international competition.

Recent Performance Analysis (2024-2025)

2024 Season Highlights

• World U20 Championships: Double medal performance (gold and silver)
• Mixed Relay Excellence: Crucial contribution to historic Australian victory
• National Record Setting: Part of Australian U20 record in mixed 4x400m

2025 Indoor Season

• World Indoor Championships: Bronze medal in senior competition
• Personal Best: 51.84 seconds in 400m (Australian Championships)
• Relay Consistency: Continued excellence in relay events

Competitive Progression

Her times show consistent improvement:

• 2022: Early championship victories at youth level
• 2023: Stawell Gift victory, national junior titles
• 2024: International breakthrough, World U20 medals
• 2025: Senior international medal, sub-52 second 400m

Cultural Impact and Recognition

Australian Athletics Renaissance

Bella represents the exciting new generation of Australian sprinting, following in the tradition of champions like Cathy Freeman while establishing her own unique path.

Regional Pride

Her success brings significant attention to Wangaratta and regional Victoria, inspiring young athletes in rural and regional areas to pursue athletics excellence.

Media Coverage

Featured prominently in Australian athletics media, local Victorian newspapers, and international track and field publications following her major victories.

Training Environment and Support

Australian Athletics Development

Benefits from Athletics Australia’s high-performance programs, including:

• National team development pathways
• Access to world-class coaching and facilities
• International competition opportunities
• Sports science and medical support

Local Training Base

Trains primarily in Victoria while representing Australia internationally, maintaining connection to home base in Wangaratta while accessing metropolitan training facilities when needed.

Future Prospects and Potential

Immediate Pathway (2025-2026)

• Commonwealth Youth Games: Potential selection for Trinidad and Tobago
• World Championships: Possible senior team selection
• Olympic Preparation: Development toward Los Angeles 2028

Long-term Development

With coach Jason Boulton noting she “hasn’t even scratched the surface yet,” Bella’s potential appears limitless. Her current ranking in top 150 globally at age 18, combined with continued improvement, suggests future success at the highest levels.

Educational Decisions

Will need to balance potential scholarship opportunities (domestic or international) with her athletic development and family considerations.

Legacy in Progress

At just 18 years old, Bella Pasquali has already established herself as one of Australia’s most promising sprint talents. Her combination of:

• International medals at youth and senior levels
• National records in relay events
• Gift racing success in Australia’s premier sprint events
• Family athletic tradition combined with individual excellence
• Academic balance with elite sport

…positions her as a role model for young Australian athletes and a genuine prospect for future Olympic and World Championship success.

This biography is based on available competitive results, media coverage, and official athletic records as of July 2025. As Bella Pasquali continues her rapid development and progression through senior international athletics, more detailed information about her training, academic plans, and personal interests will likely become available.

Recognition and Awards

Bella’s achievements have earned recognition across Australian athletics:

• Athletics Australia featured profiles and interviews
• Local media coverage in Victorian publications
• World Athletics inclusion in international competition previews
• Australian Olympic Committee acknowledgment as rising talent

Her story represents the perfect blend of natural talent, family support, quality coaching, and personal dedication that characterizes Australian athletics excellence.

Go Bella!