Fresh off her Olympic gold victory in the 800 meters at the Paris Games, 22-year-old Keely Hodgkinson has set her sights on shattering one of athletics’ oldest records—the women’s 800m world record that has stood unchallenged for over 40 years.
The record, set by Czech runner Jarmila Kratochvílová in July 1983 at Munich’s Olympic Stadium, remains one of the most enduring in track and field. Kratochvílová’s time of 1:53.28 has withstood the test of time, becoming a symbol of athletic excellence and resilience.
Hodgkinson, who crossed the finish line in Paris with a time of 1:56.72, has seen her confidence soar after clocking an impressive 1:54.61 in London earlier this year. This remarkable performance has fueled her ambition to take on Kratochvílová’s record.
Speaking at the ‘Team GB’s Homecoming’ event held at Manchester’s AO Arena, Hodgkinson shared her aspirations: “It’s definitely something I’ve thought about since I raced in London. I think that record has stood for so long. It’s been a long time since anyone has hit [one minute] 53 seconds, so I’d love to do that. I think I can. I now believe I can do that.”
As Hodgkinson eyes this monumental challenge, another British athlete Georgia Bell is contemplating her own future in the sport. Bell has secured a bronze medal in the 1500 meters at the Paris Olympics, is still undecided about whether to fully commit to athletics as a career.
At 30 years old, athlete’s journey back to competitive running began just three years ago after she had stepped away from the sport. Balancing her athletic ambitions with her job at a cyber security software company in London, Bell is now at a crossroads.
“I’ve been on a break over the summer to focus on the Olympics and the plan is to go back in September,” Bell explained. “Work have been super-supportive and we’ll see what happens. I think it will be really difficult to balance both. So it’s something I’m going to think about.”
Meanwhile, another nineteen-year-old British athlete Toby Roberts made history by becoming the first Briton to win an Olympic medal in sports climbing, securing gold in the boulder and lead event in Paris.
Reflecting on his victory, Roberts described the experience as surreal, said, “Things had been a bit of a blur since, and it still feels surreal to have this medal round my neck right now. I’ve always seen myself as a climber who loves competing, and to be among all these great athletes in this environment feels like a dream really.”
As these athletes navigate the highs of Olympic success and the uncertainties of their future paths, their stories continue to inspire and captivate the world of sports.
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