6th August 2024

Keely Hodgkinson's journey to becoming Olympic champion

As Keely Hodgkinson raced down the home straight at the Stade de France, she looked every inch the Olympic champion she was about to become.
The 22-year-old was favourite for gold heading into the women’s 800m, but showed no signs of pressure or expectations as she controlled the race from start to finish, holding off the late challenge of world champion Mary Moraa before punching the air as she crossed the line.
It was the culmination of years of hard graft, as she made her long-awaited step up to the top of the podium after four straight silvers on athletics’ biggest stages.
“I’ve worked so hard for this,” said Hodgkinson.
“The crowd was just absolutely incredible. It felt like a home Olympics for me, there are that many Brits in the stadium.
“It just spurs me on and I’m super happy that I’ve been able to fulfil what I feel like I could do.”

Hodgkinson is Britain’s first new Olympic gold medallist in athletics since London 2012 and is now primed to be the face of Team GB for years to come.
This was a masterful display of front-running as she led the field through the first 400m in a measured 58.4 seconds, giving her plenty in the tank to kick for home.
Hodgkinson worked hard on her top-end speed for that exact moment, clocking a significant 400m personal best in May and competing in the one-lap event at the Microplus UK Athletics Championships in June to hone her explosiveness.
Ethiopia’s Tsige Duguma and Moraa could not match the Brit, who cut the tape in 1:56.72, as they settled for silver and bronze respectively.

Hodgkinson said: “I wanted to be up near the front anyway, probably quicker after the first lap, but doing the semi-final and the final back to back everyone was tired.
“It’s tough. I trusted myself, I could feel Mary coming at me down the back straight. But I showed composure and I got to the line first this time.
“I had a cheeky look at the screen just to make sure but you can’t do anything until you cross that line. I’m now the Olympic champion for the next four years and nobody can take that away from me.”
Athing Mu’s fall at US Trials meant the rival who beat her in Tokyo and at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene no longer stood in her way.
And Moraa, who bested Hodgkinson at the Commonwealth Games in 2022 and at last year’s Worlds in Budapest, could not touch her in the closing metres.
“I feel like I’ve really grown over the last couple of years and this year is the year I’ve really tried to make that step up,” said Hodgkinson.
“The other girls are incredible. I knew to cross that line first I had to go one better than I ever had. I’m just so pleased to do it. The future is bright.

Just how badly Hodgkinson was injured over the winter has flown under the radar.
She missed nine weeks of training between November and January after tears to a knee ligament and tendon, which extended into her hamstring. That Hodgkinson didn’t compete indoors as a result appears to have been a blessing in disguise.
In that recovery process, she has leant on the pioneering medical support provided by UK Sport’s National Lottery-funded World Class Programme.
“I’ve seen all the support from home, I’ve seen people messaging me and I haven’t got back to everyone yet but I will do and I’ve seen it all,” she said.
“It couldn’t feel more amazing to that have support. I’m super happy to bring it home for everyone. It’s not just me, it’s a whole team effort and they know who they are. This is our gold medal.”

National Lottery players raise more than £30million a week for Good Causes including vital funding into sport – from grassroots to elite. To find out more visit: www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk

Watch every moment of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games athletics competitions on Discovery+ and BBC Sport.

 

Related News & Features