An incredible Olympic 800m champion was itching to get back on the track. Remember that amazing gold she snagged in Paris last August, blazing across the finish line in 1:56.72? Well, since then, our British star has been quietly preparing, with her eyes firmly on a stellar 2025.
But life throws curveballs, even for champions. Keely Hodgkinson, who’s just 23, has had a rough ride since Paris Olympic glory. A nagging hamstring injury sadly kept her out of the indoor season, meaning she missed a shot at her third straight European Indoor title.
Fans were absolutely buzzing for her return at the Stockholm Diamond League. It was meant to be her big comeback, almost exactly a year to the day after she defended her 800m crown in Paris. Everyone was asking, could her return live up to all the excitement?
Heartbreakingly, the wait continues. BBC Sport just reported that Keely has had to pull out of the Stockholm race due to a setback with that hamstring. It’s the same injury that first flared up in February, forcing her to miss her own Klassic, and now it’s delaying her season debut. And this wasn’t just any race; it was her chance to go head-to-head with her Olympic rivals, Tsige Duguma from Ethiopia and Mary Moraa from Kenya, who took silver and bronze in Paris. This was shaping up to be the race of the Diamond League, a crucial stepping stone towards the World Championships in Tokyo. So, what does this mean for her whole season?
Her absence really stings for all of us who just love watching her electrifying speed. Stockholm was meant to be her starting block, a real test of her recovery, and a chance to build up some momentum. Her 2024 season was a testament to her sheer grit – she ran an incredible 1:55.78 in London, the fastest 800m since 2018, and even received an MBE for all she’s done for athletics. With Tokyo looming in September, her team is wisely focused on a careful, cautious recovery.
Can Keely bounce back from this and really push for that incredible 1:54 barrier, truly cementing her legacy? But injuries are just such a cruel hurdle. And she is not unfamiliar with those.
Keely Hodgkinson is a champion’s unyielding spirit
Keely Hodgkinson, Great Britain’s reigning Olympic 800m champion, is more than just a brilliant runner; she’s a testament to incredible resilience. We all remember her bursting onto the scene at just 19, snagging a silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Since then, she’s been a force to be reckoned with in middle-distance running.
But behind all the glittering medals and impressive times, Keely’s journey hasn’t been smooth sailing. She’s faced a string of injuries that have constantly tested her. Even before she became a household name, at just 13, she underwent mastoid surgery that left her mostly deaf in one ear and temporarily threw her balance and athletic dreams into doubt.
As her career blossomed, shin issues plagued her teenage years, forcing her to miss the World Indoor Championships, where she was a strong medal favorite. Then, in 2024, right after a nearly perfect season capped by Olympic gold in Paris, a persistent injury cut her year short, sidelining her from major races.
The winter of 2025 brought another devastating blow: a severe hamstring tear during her final preparations for her very own “Keely Klassic” event. This cruel twist dashed her hopes of a world record and ruled her out of crucial European and World Indoor Championships, even threatening her outdoor season.
Despite these incredibly tough setbacks, Keely’s spirit remains unbroken. She’s been incredibly open about her recovery, keeping us all updated and staying focused on future championships. Her career isn’t just about the medals she collects; it’s about the remarkable comebacks she continually stages. What an inspiring athlete!
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