Keely Hodgkinson captured her first world indoor title in commanding fashion as she claimed 800m gold in a championship record time on a historic night for Great Britain.
The Olympic gold medallist became Britain’s first women’s 800m world champion – indoors or outdoors – with a dominant performance, crossing the line more than a second clear of her rivals in one minute 55.30 seconds.
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Hodgkinson’s triumph wrapped up 28 minutes of success after golds for her training partner Georgia Hunter Bell and pole vaulter Molly Caudery on a sensational Sunday for the British team.
The indoor 800m world record holder reappeared on the track less than an hour later to join the bid for a women’s 4x400m relay medal at the end of the final day of action in Poland.
Despite her best efforts – and running the quickest leg of any athlete in the event with a 50.10-second split – she was unable to overturn a substantial deficit on her anchor leg.
Following Josh Kerr’s 3,000m triumph on Saturday, it guaranteed the British team’s most successful World Indoor Championships of all time, surpassing the three gold medals achieved in 1999.
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Hodgkinson peerless in pursuit of elusive 800m gold
After executing a seismic, record-breaking run to smash Jolanda Ceplak’s near 24-year women’s indoor 800m mark last month, Hodgkinson’s attention was fixed firmly on gold in Torun.
This was the final international podium missing from Hodgkinson’s extensive list of honours, after various injuries prevented her from competing at each of the past three world indoors.
The 24-year-old, who has 11 international medals, has also been denied in her three attempts to win world gold outdoors, achieving two silvers and one bronze.
Hodgkinson said she hoped it would be “fourth time lucky” in 2026 – but she had to overcome misfortune even before beginning her gold medal bid, after the airline she had travelled with lost her kit.
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With her belongings delayed, Hodgkinson was forced to complete her preparations in somebody else’s spikes, which ended up giving her a blister.
But that did not affect Hodgkinson as she dominated Friday’s heat, before cruising to victory in Saturday’s semi-final in a time faster than all but one of her fellow finalist’s personal bests.
Switzerland’s Audrey Werro was the only contender with an indoor best time within three seconds of Hodgkinson’s world record mark, and the Briton’s superiority was evident as she comfortably strode clear inside the venue where she achieved her first international medal five years ago.
‘Keely 2.0’ continues to make up for lost time
Keely Hodgkinson celebrated with fellow gold medallists Georgia Hunter Bell and Molly Caudery [Getty Images]
Five whirlwind years have passed since Hodgkinson announced herself on the international stage by winning a first major title at the European indoors in Torun, going on to claim silver on her Olympic debut later that summer.
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Hodgkinson salvaged an injury-devastated first year as the reigning Olympic champion by making the world podium in Tokyo six months ago and is ultimately appreciative of the perspective that setback has given her.
She says she now feels reconnected to her “fearless” 19-year-old self – and she is already making up for missed opportunities.
Off the back of the “healthiest” winter training she has had for several years, Hodgkinson – branded ‘Keely 2.0’ within her training group following her impressive rebuild from two hamstring tears last year – is in seemingly unstoppable form, with European and Commonwealth titles available on home soil this summer.
Hodgkinson’s latest triumph leaves upgrading from silver to gold at the world outdoors and Commonwealths as the final frontiers as far as her international medal collection is concerned.
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But her historic start to the season has also only increased anticipation surrounding a tilt at athletics’ longest-standing world record – the 43-year outright 800m world record of 1:53.28, set by Jarmila Kratochvilova.
