At just 22, the British athlete secures her first major title in the 800 meters, cementing her status as the queen of the distance.
“I’ve wasted three months of my life waiting for her,” remarks Trevor Painter, coach of Keely Hodgkinson, in an interview. While her tardiness off the track exasperates him, Hodgkinson’s punctuality on the track is impeccable. She won silver in the 800 meters at the Tokyo Olympics at only 19 years old, and her continuous improvement has established her as the leading specialist in the two-lap event, outpacing all other competitors.
Hodgkinson, from Atherton in Greater Manchester, has restored Britain’s dominance in this historic event, 20 years after Kelly Holmes’ double victory in the 800 and 1,500 meters at the Athens 2004 Olympics.
Her command and confidence are striking for such a young athlete, but she is undoubtedly the best right now. It’s clear-cut. She has broken the two-minute barrier over thirty times and runs comfortably below it. This summer, she clocked an impressive 1:54.51 at the Diamond League in London.
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Compounding her success was the unfortunate elimination of American Athing Mu in the trials, preventing her from competing in Paris. This left Hodgkinson without a serious rival in the Olympic final. “Being an Olympic champion is something no one can take away from me,” Hodgkinson celebrated after winning her gold medal, her first major title following her second-place finishes in Tokyo and at the World Championships in Edmonton and Budapest.
Initially, Hodgkinson’s athletic career began in swimming, but she soon discovered her potential in running. She started running in school, alongside her close friend Ella Toone, now a footballer for Manchester United. Hodgkinson trains under the guidance of Trevor Painter, a former rugby player, and Jenny Meadows, an ex-athlete. They coach her from their base in Wigan, helping her stay disciplined and focused.
“She has a free spirit, running without a care in the world and making great decisions even under immense pressure,” Painter describes in an interview, highlighting the efforts to keep Hodgkinson on schedule for her training sessions.
Managing Hodgkinson’s rise to fame has been a crucial part of her journey. She transitioned from relative obscurity to stardom after her initial medals. “It’s challenging to go from being an unknown to having numerous sponsorships,” Painter explains. “She began receiving attention from major athletic brands, participating in photoshoots for Vogue, and appearing on the cover of Elle.”
Staying grounded was essential for her continued development, something Hodgkinson has embraced despite her interest in fashion and high-end brands. She remains focused on her ultimate goal: to be the best and, one day, attempt to break Jarmila Kratochvilova’s 1983 record of 1:53.28 in the 800 meters.
Overcoming Adversity Despite her current success, Hodgkinson faced significant challenges growing up. In an interview with ‘Sky Sports,’ she shared her experience with a tumor that left her partially deaf in one ear. “It wasn’t cancerous or life-threatening, but it had been growing for 10 years and had crushed my auditory bones. If left untreated, it could have affected my spine and caused facial paralysis.”
At 13, Hodgkinson underwent a mastoidectomy to remove the tumor, which damaged her auditory bones and temporarily affected her balance. “I couldn’t walk because the surgery impacted my equilibrium. But fortunately, everything went as planned,” she recounts. Hodgkinson overcame these obstacles and returned to running, ultimately becoming the Olympic champion in the 800 meters.
