How 'Keely 2.0' dominated 800m field for first world indoors title

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Hodgkinson runs championship record in 800m final

75 CommentsUpdated 1 hour agoAfter an injury-blighted first season as Olympic champion, 2026 is about one thing for Keely Hodgkinson: "domination".

The 24-year-old 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 in Poland on Sunday.

That success came one month after she smashed the long-standing women's indoor 800m world record, set by Slovenia's Jolanda Ceplak on the day the Briton was born in 2002.

The first of two serious hamstring injuries prevented her from attacking that mark 12 months ago, and she was forced to wait 376 days to race again following her crowning moment at Paris 2024.

But Hodgkinson - branded 'Keely 2.0' within her training group following her impressive rebuild in the gym - is already making up for lost time.

"When I'm in the shape of my life, why leave it to chance?

"If you want to beat me, I'll make you work hard for it."

Hodgkinson made further history by becoming Britain's first women's 800m world champion - indoors or outdoors - crossing the line more than a second clear of her rivals in one minute 55.30 seconds.

That 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.

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.

Hodgkinson reappeared on the track less than an hour after her gold to join the bid for a women's 4x400m relay medal at the end of the final day of action in Torun.

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.

Three golds in 28 minutes - GB make history at World Indoors

Published2 hours agoGB's Kerr reclaims world indoor 3,000m title

Published1 day agoHodgkinson peerless in pursuit of elusive 800m goldAfter executing her seismic, record-breaking run 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" indoors 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.

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.

Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Hodgkinson celebrated with fellow British gold medallists Hunter Bell and Caudery

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.

Hodgkinson still managed to salvage silverware from her challenging 2025 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 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.

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.

"It has been such a fun few days. I'm really grateful to be here and to be healthy. I'm glad I could show what I know I can do," said Hodgkinson.

"To get three golds in half an hour is absolutely amazing. We absolutely smashed it."

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Keely didn't come to take things easy

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