'Starting to Get Annoyed' – Keely Hodgkinson Overcomes Lost Luggage to Reach 800m Final at World Indoors
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Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson's preparations for the World Indoor Championships in Poland were thrown into disarray when her luggage, containing all her kit, was lost for nearly two days.
The British middle-distance star was forced to train in borrowed spikes ahead of the women's 800m event, where she is targeting a historic gold medal.
Keely Hodgkinson, who won gold at the Paris Olympics and set a new world indoor 800m record last month, managed to put the disruption behind her and focus on her main goal.
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The former Olympic 800m silver medallist comfortably advanced to the final in Torun on Saturday with a time of one minute and 58.53 seconds.
Keely Hodgkinson: It’s All Good Now
Speaking to reporters on Friday after winning her initial heat, the 24-year-old confirmed her luggage had finally arrived just before the first round of competition.
"I was starting to get annoyed," Keely Hodgkinson admitted. "A very nice Polish girl let me borrow her spikes, and they gave me a blister. I just didn’t have any kit or my supplements. But it’s all good now."
Despite the setback, the two-time world 800m silver medallist posted the fastest time in the heats and is the clear favourite for the gold medal.
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A victory would be particularly meaningful for the athlete, who has faced a string of misfortunes at this championship in previous years.
"In 2022, I got all the way here, but I didn’t end up starting because I tore my quads," she explained. "In 2024, I had a knee injury that put me out over winter, so I missed Glasgow. And last year, I tore my hamstring just before it started. So it’s been emotional."
Keely Hodgkinson began her world indoor campaign with a win in the heats, crossing the finish line in 2:00.32. She then claimed a win in the semifinal, clocking 1:58.53.
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