Keely Hodgkinson Obliterates 24-Year-Old Indoor 800m World Record in Stunning Performance
Britain's Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson has made history by smashing the indoor 800m world record, which had stood for 24 years, with a breathtaking run in Liévin, France. The 23-year-old athlete clocked an astonishing time of 1:54.88, nearly a second faster than the previous mark of 1:55.82 set by Slovenia's Jolanda Ceplak on March 3, 2002—the exact day Hodgkinson was born.
A Record Long in the Making
Hodgkinson had openly targeted this record for weeks, expressing confidence after a preparatory race at the British championships. In Liévin, she dominated a competitive field that included Ethiopia's Olympic silver medallist Tsige Duguma and Switzerland's European Under-23 champion Audrey Werro. Post-race, a breathless Hodgkinson exclaimed, "Thank God! That was really fun. I've been looking forward to this for a good few weeks." She also credited the packed stadium for their support, adding, "I had lots of help today."
Overcoming Adversity to Achieve Greatness
This triumph follows a challenging period for Hodgkinson. She initially planned to break the record at her own event, the Keely Klassic, in Birmingham last February but suffered a hamstring tweak on the eve of the race. Further setbacks occurred after an eight-hour round trip to Windsor Palace to collect an MBE, which aggravated her hamstring and back issues. Although she managed to win a bronze medal at the world championships in Tokyo in September, she was not at her peak form.
Superb Form and Strategic Pacing
Starting the indoor season in exceptional condition, Hodgkinson executed her race flawlessly. She passed the halfway mark in 55.56 seconds and reached 600m in 1:25.06, maintaining her pace to shatter the world indoor record—now referred to as the short-track record by World Athletics—by 0.88 seconds. This achievement adds to her impressive resume, which includes an Olympic gold and silvers, as well as multiple world championship medals.
Looking Ahead to Future Challenges
With this record secured, Hodgkinson now sets her sights on the world indoor championships in Torun, Poland, next month, aiming to claim one of the few medals missing from her collection. Reflecting on her motivation, she stated, "I've been very vocal about wanting to break it. I feel like it's my record to take because it was set on the exact day I was born." Her performance not only showcases her athletic prowess but also her resilience and determination to overcome obstacles in pursuit of excellence.
