Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson has admitted her first race since triumphing at the Paris Games will be a “nerve-wracking” experience.
The 23-year-old British middle-distance star, who struck gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics, is set to make her comeback at the Stockholm Diamond League on June 15. It will be her first competitive appearance in 10 months, following a hamstring injury that sidelined her earlier this year.
A Stacked Field in Stockholm
Hodgkinson’s return won’t be a gentle one. The women’s 800m race in Stockholm has attracted an elite line-up, featuring all eight of the world’s top-ranked athletes, including fellow Britons Georgia Hunter-Bell and Jemma Reekie. Among the competitors are also Kenya’s Mary Moraa and Ethiopia’s Tsige Duguma, who won bronze and silver respectively behind Hodgkinson in Paris.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Hodgkinson admitted the challenge ahead has stirred both nerves and excitement.
“I feel out of practice in a way, because by the time I do the race it will be 10 months. But it’s nothing we haven’t coped with before. The first race will be a nerve-wracking one because my last race I literally became Olympic champion. But I’m excited for it.”
An Extra Push from a Tough Line-up
The competitive field has added extra motivation for the Olympic champion as she targets not only a strong comeback but also momentum heading into the World Championships in Tokyo this September.
“When I saw the line-up, it was the perfect motivation that I needed for the next six weeks. It’s going to be a hard race — it never is easy — but we want to come out on top. We’re working really hard towards that and the races to follow.”
Hodgkinson has been carefully managing her recovery since suffering a hamstring injury in February during her final training session before the inaugural Keely Klassic event in Birmingham, which she founded.
Eyes on More Titles and Records
While Hodgkinson’s immediate goal is reclaiming global dominance at the World Championships, she’s also keeping an eye on the clock. The Briton hopes to break the 1:54 barrier for the 800m this season, inching closer to the long-standing world record of 1:53.28, set by Jarmila Kratochvilova in 1983.
“It’s going to be hard in Tokyo. Everyone steps it up every year; the standard just keeps getting higher. We’re pushing the limits and want to break 1:54, hopefully this year, we’ll see. But the main aim is to win gold, and whatever time that comes with would be amazing. Titles last forever.”
Hodgkinson already boasts an impressive résumé, including the world indoor best for the 600m and two Diamond League 800m titles (2021, 2023).
As she prepares for her return in Stockholm, fans and competitors alike will be watching closely to see if she can reclaim her dominance and set the tone for an electrifying season.
