Keely Hodgkinson sets out aim to break 800m women's world record after Paris 2024 Olympics glory
Published 18/08/2024 at 11:33 GMT
Keely Hodgkinson has set her sights on the 800m women's world record, insisting she is capable of bettering the time set by Jarmila Kratochvilova in 1983. The Team GB star is fresh off a gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics and is on course for a widely successful career at the age of just 22. She will be aiming for another gold medal at the World Championships in Tokyo next year.
Watch thrilling finish as Hodgkinson grabs gold for Team GB in 800m
Keely Hodgkinson is targeting the 800m women’s world record after winning gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The Team GB athlete was an emphatic winner in the final at the Games, posting an impressive time of 1:56.72.
But she has set out her intention to get even quicker, admitting she hopes to break the record of 1:53.28 set by Czech runner Jarmila Kratochvilova in 1983.
Hodgkinson’s best ever time was a 1:54.61 clocked in London last month, and at 22 she has time on her side as she attempts to make history.
“It’s definitely something I’ve thought about since I raced in London,” she said at a special 'Team GB's Homecoming' event at Manchester's AO Arena. “That record has stood for so long. It’s been a long time since anyone has hit [one minute and] 53 seconds, so I’d love to do that. I think I can. I now believe I can do that.
“With the science and the technology that we have in the sport, we should welcome it, and that’s what’s helping us get near to these records. I’d love to see how close I can get to it.”
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As well as her ambition to break records, Hodgkinson also has more medals and more success on the agenda with a busy schedule ahead in the coming months and years.
“The Worlds [World Championships] are next year in Tokyo and that’s the one medal I don’t have - I have European gold, I have Olympic gold but I don’t have a World gold, so it would be really great to do that next year,” she added.
“And we go again in four years’ time to try to defend my Olympic title. The four-year cycle begins again - obviously I have other championships in between.
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“You never know what can happen every single year. You have to work really hard and try to stay healthy - you literally train so hard for one day to go right. When you think about that it puts it into perspective.
“I could really feel the pressure [in Paris] but I just did my best to manage it and realise what a privileged position I was in and try to embrace that role.
“Since I won, I feel less pressure now, because now I’ve done it and I’ve proved to myself that I can deliver when it matters. Anything that comes now would be an extra bonus and it gives me confidence.”
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