Keely Hodgkinson fades to bronze as Georgia Hunter Bell takes silver in 800m thriller at World Championships, with Lilian Odira taking gold
Updated 21/09/2025 at 13:06 GMT+1
React to this story
Britain won two medals in the women's 800m – but not the colours they wanted. Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson finished third behind team-mate Georgia Hunter Bell as Kenya's Lilian Odira took a shock gold. It means Britain are likely to finish the World Athletics Championships without a gold medal, with Hodgkinson their only champion in track and field at the Paris Olympics last summer.
Hodgkinson and Hunter Bell pipped late by Odira in 800m final
Video credit: TNT Sports
Keely Hodgkinson ran out of steam as she took bronze in the 800 metres at the World Athletics Championships, with British team-mate Georgia Hunter Bell pipping her to silver as Kenya's Lilian Odira shocked the field.
Defending champion Mary Moraa set a lightning pace from the gun, going through halfway comfortably under world record pace, with Hodgkinson battling to keep the curb.
Moraa inevitably slowed and Hodgkinson, running just her fifth race of an injury-ravaged season, powered into the home straight in the lead - but the fierce tempo took its toll.
Hunter Bell moved into contention as the pre-race favourite tired, but neither Briton could do anything about Odira's late charge to gold.
Hodgkinson and Hunter Bell needed a photo finish to settle the silver medal, with the latter claiming it and adding the scalp of her training partner to an increasingly impressive CV.
'Not the medals we wanted'
TNT Sports commentator Martin Gillingham reflected on the outcome of the race in the immediate aftermath, admitting it was an underwhelming result in the end for Great Britain.
"Britain is denied again!" said Gillingham. "Hunter Bell and Hodgkinson cross the line together, but it is Lilian Odira [who wins].
"The Britons are shocked, and I'm afraid that has rather been the pattern of the week.
"Fantastic performance by Georgia Hunter Bell. I'm afraid the disappointment of the race in the end is Keely Hodgkinson.
"It's two medals for Great Britain but, frankly, if we were going to get two, it's not the two we wanted."
While Hodgkinson's hopes of a world title were dashed, Hunter Bell revealed her delight at a hard-earned silver.
"I wanted to show what I can do in the 800m and I knew I had to come into it fresh if I wanted to get a medal and doing both [800m and 1500m] would be too hard, the competition is so good," she told BBC Sport.
"I'm so happy, the fastest time I've ever run. I knew it would be fast from seeing the girls in the field but I was just like 'don't get dropped' and try to hang on to get the kick in the end."
- 'Not stopped smiling' - Hunt wins 200m silver as Jefferson-Wooden seals sprint double
- 'Can't wait for 2027' - Lyles warns rivals after matching Bolt's fourth straight 200m world title
Hodgkinson, meanwhile, chose to take a positive outlook after dropping to third despite a strong start.
"I felt pretty good at the start and it was quick out there and a bit of tussling and surging that might have wasted a bit of energy but I was in it to win it, and when you go in for gold, you risk dropping off the podium or coming second or third," she told BBC Sport.
"I'm happy for the both of us. We both got a medal, my third 1:54 and to be consistent like that, especially after the year I've had, it's not what I came here for, but I can't be too disappointed."
Asked about the final stretch of the race, Hodgkinson added: "I thought I had it. But [Lilian] Odira ran past and I did my best. The last 10m my legs were falling off. I ran it how I ran it and this is what the result is."
Watch and stream coverage of the 2025 World Athletics Championships on TNT Sports and discovery+
Related Topics
Advertisement
Advertisement