Keely Hodgkinson won the Olympic title in the 800m at the Paris Games and now has a new big goal – to improve the world record in the event, which has been at the top for more than four decades. Czech runner Jarmila Kratochvilova’s top performance was 1:53.28 min from the Munich Olympic Stadium in July 1983.
Keely Hodgkinson won in Paris in 1:56.72 min, but in July in London she ran 1:54.61 min.
“It’s definitely something I’ve thought about since I raced in London. That record has stood for so long. It’s been a long time since anyone has hit 1 minute and 53 seconds, so I’d love to do that. I think I can. I now believe I can do that”, said Keely Hodgkinson. “With the science and the technology that we have in the sport, we should welcome it, and that’s what’s helping us get near to these records. I’d love to see how close I can get to it”, added she.
As well as her ambition to break records, she also has more medals and more success on the agenda with a busy schedule ahead in the coming months and years.
Keely Hodgkinson won the silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, breaking the British record set by Kelly Holmes in 1995. She proceeded to win silver medals at several championships; the 2022 and 2023 World Championships, as well as the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Continentally, Keely Hodgkinson went one step higher, becoming a two-time European champion in 2022 and 2024 and a two-time European indoor champion from 2021 and 2023. She also holds the world indoor best for the 600m and was the 2021 and 2023 Diamond League 800m champion.
