Britain’s Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson has been forced to withdraw from her highly anticipated world record attempt on Saturday, as well as next month’s European Indoor Championships, due to a hamstring injury.
The 22-year-old had been in peak form and was set to challenge the long-standing short-track 800m world record at the inaugural Keely Klassic in Birmingham. However, in a final training session before the event, she felt tightness in her hamstring. A subsequent scan revealed the injury was more severe than initially believed, ruling her out of competition.
“I won’t lie – when I got the news, I shed a tear,” Hodgkinson admitted. “I’ve worked so hard for this moment and was in the best shape of my life. I’m absolutely gutted that I won’t be able to race for the fans, especially after so many have bought tickets to see me try and break the world record.”
Despite the setback, she remains hopeful of returning in time for the World Indoor Championships in China in five weeks, though doubts remain about whether she will be ready to compete again this winter.
Although unable to race, Hodgkinson will still attend the Keely Klassic to support fellow British athletes, including 1500m Olympic bronze medallist Georgia Bell and world indoor pole vault champion Molly Caudery. The event, which Hodgkinson helped establish with the support of her management team, was designed to showcase British talent and bring fresh energy to athletics.
“This event was never just about me it was always about showcasing British talent, creating something new for the sport, and bringing more energy and entertainment to athletics,” she explained. “That’s something I’m committed to for the long term.”
Determined to contribute to the occasion, she intends to play an active role in ensuring a great atmosphere for both athletes and fans. “I’ll be in Birmingham on Saturday doing everything I can to make sure it’s an amazing night. I want to help create a real festival atmosphere, engage with as many young people as possible, and hopefully inspire the next generation to fall in love with track and field.”
Hodgkinson’s withdrawal also means that the BBC avoids potential criticism for its decision not to broadcast the world record attempt on its main terrestrial channels. Instead, the corporation had opted to air Mr Malcolm’s List, a film it had already shown in October 2024, along with a repeat of Flog It! on BBC Two. The Keely Klassic was relegated to BBC iPlayer, despite Hodgkinson’s significant popularity following her gold medal win in Paris, which drew 9.1 million viewers, and her subsequent victory in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.
The decision surprised many in the athletics community, given Hodgkinson’s status as one of Britain’s most prominent sports stars. However, a BBC source defended the move, stating that difficult programming decisions had to be made daily and that not all events could be shown on linear TV. They emphasized that the Keely Klassic would still be widely accessible via BBC iPlayer, ensuring a large digital audience across the UK.
