Keely Hodgkinson: Briton seeks to reassert dominance at European Championships in Birmingham
Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson prepares to defend her European 800m title in Birmingham following a challenging season. She addresses recent defeats and maintains confidence in her performance despite increased competition.
Why it matters
Covers the career trajectory of a high-profile athlete and the evolving competitive landscape in track and field.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Keely Hodgkinson is targeting a third straight European 800m title in Birmingham
Keely Hodgkinson will seek to prove she is still number one after a "tricky" outdoor season when she comes up against world-class rivals in pursuit of a third consecutive European 800m title in Birmingham.
Olympic champion Hodgkinson, 24, has had much to celebrate in 2026, including breaking the long-standing indoor 800m world record , winning her first world title and improving her British record outdoors.
However, she was forced to settle for second behind Audrey Werro in achieving the latter at the Stockholm Diamond League, after the 22-year-old Swiss ran the fastest time since the outdoor world record was set 43 years ago.
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