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Keely Hodgkinson indoor season came to a halt ahead of the Keely Klassic due to an injury but the British Olympian still has her eyes set on an elusive accolade.
Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson has set her sights on one of the most elusive accolades in athletics—the women’s 800m world record.
The British star was forced to withdraw from the inaugural Keely Klassic in Birmingham on February 15 due to a torn hamstring, a setback that has sidelined her indoor season aspirations.
The highly anticipated Keely Klassic delivered a thrilling spectacle of elite competition, with British records tumbling in both the women’s 300m and men’s 1000m events with the likes of Georgia Bell headlining.
Hodgkinson, known for her relentless pursuit of excellence, would have relished the chance to be part of the historic meet.
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However, the injury has forced her to shift her record ambitions to later in the year.
Despite the disappointment, Hodgkinson remains undeterred in her quest to rewrite history.
Speaking to Sky Sports, the Olympic gold medalist revealed her belief in the possibility of breaking the long-standing 800m world record.
“Honestly, if you'd asked me a year ago, is 1:53 possible, I may have said no or it would have been so, so, so hard. But seeing just what I did in training last year and how well my body's come on, you know, the technology that we have in track and field now, I 100% do think it's possible," she said
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The current 800m world record of 1:53.28, set by Jarmila Kratochvílová in 1983, has stood for 42 years and remains one of the most controversial marks in track and field history.
Hodgkinson, whose personal best stands at 1:54.61, acknowledges the challenges ahead but remains focused on closing the gap.
“I do have a small eye on it. You know it's going to be a special day if that ever does get broken. As you say, it's the longest-standing track record of all track and field at the moment. So yeah, I look forward to that being a really big target and just seeing how fast I can go.”
Kratochvílová’s record has long been shrouded in allegations of doping, though she has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
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Despite the absence of star attraction Keely Hodgkinson, the event still lived up to its billing with spectacular performances.
Hodgkinson is aware of the debate surrounding the mark but prefers to focus on her own progress.
“I know it's had its controversies around it, but honestly, we'll never know. There are a lot of people that haven't gotten near it," she said.
"I'm sixth fastest now on the all-time list, and I'm proud to be sixth fastest, but I know we can climb those spaces. So we're just looking to hopefully do that, and I think it would be nice to rewrite the history.”
With her indoor season prematurely ended, Hodgkinson is now focused on rehabilitation and ensuring a strong return later in the year.
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While her absence from the Keely Klassic was a disappointment, her ambitions remain undiminished.
The pursuit of the 800m world record continues, and for Hodgkinson, the dream of etching her name in the history books is very much alive.
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