Keely Hodgkinson was left disappointed after missing out on the Diamond League title in Stockholm but the Olympic 800m champion was soon back on the track
Athletics ace Keely Hodgkinson is evidently still reeling from her second-place finish at last week’s Diamond League meeting. That much was clear following her latest training update, which showed the Team GB star being consoled by a colleague after a gruelling session on the track.
Hodgkinson, 24, had been widely fancied for 800-metre success in Stockholm last Sunday. And that proved partially accurate after she clocked a new British national record of one minute, 54.33 seconds in the fifth leg of this season’s Diamond League.
However, it only proved sufficient for silver on the day as she was narrowly beaten to the line by Switzerland’s Audrey Werro. The Olympic champion returned to the track this week, grafting as relentlessly as ever following that setback to make amends in a session that clearly left its mark.
Hodgkinson shared a photo to her Instagram story showing her receiving an embrace at training, with the caption: “After session hugs because that s*** hurt so much.”
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Just 0.35 seconds was all that divided her from 22-year-old Werro, who simultaneously set a new Swiss record. Werro’s time was also the third-quickest women’s 800m ever recorded, as well as the fastest clocked since 1980.
That places into greater perspective just how proud Hodgkinson should feel about her achievement despite finishing in second place. Yet, judging by her social media activity, she appears to still be feeling the full weight of missing out on the top step of the podium.
Former junior sensation Werro has established herself as a formidable new force in the 800m over the past couple of seasons and could prove a serious rival to Hodgkinson for years to come. Nevertheless, Team GB’s gold medal-winner at the 2024 Paris Olympics is determined to use the Stockholm result as the driving force behind her pursuit of a new world record.
“Honestly, I’m not that disappointed,” Hodgkinson said after the race. “I’ve mentioned the world record and to get down to the times that we’re talking about, you can’t do it by yourself. So I think this will actually be a pivotal moment…”
She continued: “I really work well with a little bit of anger and motivation so I can’t complain too much. Beforehand I was a bit apprehensive, because I hadn’t done a specific 800m block, but I knew I was at least in 1:54-low shape.
“But she’s getting the best out of me and I still believe in myself. The world record is still my goal in London next month, I still believe I can do it.”
That is precisely the sort of champion’s mindset British supporters will have been hoping to see in her reaction. And it’s obvious she isn’t taking her training any more lightly despite that result being such a bitter pill to swallow.
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Hodgkinson will now set her sights on bouncing back as she prepares to compete in the 400m at the UK Championships in Birmingham. The competition kicks off at the Alexander Stadium next Saturday (June 20), where she will line up in the heats before Sunday’s final.
Alongside her 800m achievements, Hodgkinson already holds the world record in the women’s indoor 600m. She will be hoping to further cement her dominance across the middle-distance events before switching her attention back to the 800m ahead of the Diamond League meet in July.
