Kenya’s Lilian Odira produced the performance of her life in Tokyo to claim her first-ever world title, stunning Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson with a blistering late surge in the women’s 800m final at the World Athletics Championships 2025.
Odira clocked a sensational 1:54.62, breaking the oldest standing championship record, as she powered past the favorites in the final stretch.
Full Results – Women’s 800m Final (Tokyo 2025)
- Lilian ODIRA (KEN) – 1:54.62
- Georgia HUNTER BELL (GBR) – 1:54.90
- Keely HODGKINSON (GBR) – 1:54.91
- Sarah MORAA (KEN) – 1:55.74
- Sage HURTA-KLECKER (USA) – 1:55.89
- Audrey WERRO (SUI) – 1:56.17
- Mary MORAA (KEN) – 1:57.10
- Jessica HULL (AUS) – 1:57.30
Defending champion Mary Moraa set the early pace, with Hodgkinson closely marking her. As the race unfolded, Moraa and Hodgkinson kicked with 300 metres to go, but Odira, who had stayed back in the pack, timed her charge to perfection. Coming wide in the home straight, she stormed past Hodgkinson to snatch gold in dramatic fashion.
While Sarah Moraa secured a respectable fourth-place finish, Mary Moraa faded late to seventh after leading for most of the race, missing out on defending her crown. Hunter Bell caught Hodgkinson on the line to grab silver, leaving the Briton to settle for bronze.
For Odira, the victory capped an extraordinary season. The African silver medalist and mother of one had been knocking on the door all year, often overshadowed by bigger names.
Yet in Tokyo, she seized her moment, proving her class with a fearless sprint finish that restored the women’s 800m world title to Kenya.
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