Keely Hodgkinson: ‘Small injury’ forces Olympic champion to sit out rest of Athletics season - ‘No more races for me'
Published 22/08/2024 at 09:32 GMT+1
Keely Hodkinson defended her European title and claimed her first Olympic gold medal in a stunning summer on the track, but a "small injury" has ruled her out for the remainder of the 2024 season. The Team GB star struck gold at the Paris Games to add to the silver she won at Tokyo 2020, and was due to return to 800m action at next month's Diamond League meeting.
Watch thrilling finish as Hodgkinson grabs gold for Team GB in 800m
Video credit: TNT Sports
Keely Hodgkinson capped off a golden summer with the 800m Olympic title, but her sparkling showing in Paris will be the last of her action on the track this season.
The 22-year-old won all nine of her races during this year’s campaign, as she continued her dominance in the French capital to claim her maiden Olympic gold medal.
Hodgkinson, who was made to settle for the silver medal at Tokyo 2020, breezed through the heats before delivering a statement run in the semi-finals to emerge as the clear favourite to take the crown.
She raced over the line at 1:56.72 to beat competition from Ethiopia's Tsige Duguma and Kenya’s Mary Moraa to become Team GB’s first champion since Kelly Holmes in 2004.
But a “small injury” suffered in training means she will not race again in 2024, which she confirmed on social media on Wednesday night.
"No more races for me," the track star revealed.
"Unfortunately I picked up a small injury, but we achieved everything I had hoped to do this year, thank you for all the love and support. See you on the track next year."
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'It was tough' - Hodgkinson discusses pressure of claiming Olympic glory
Video credit: TNT Sports
Following her summer success, the newly-crowed Olympic champion immediately set her sights on breaking the world record of 1:53.28, which has stood since 1983.
She was due to return to 800m action and compete in the Diamond League finals in Zurich and Brussels in early September, but will no longer do so.
In a glittering 2024, Hodgkinson also defended her European title at the European Championships in June in the build-up to the Olympics.
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She then went on to break her own national record at the Diamond League meeting in London the following month, posting a rapid time of 1:54.61.
Following her maiden global title in Paris, Hodgkinson is set to return to Tokyo late next year with her sights firmly fixed on a first World Championship crown.
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