Keely Hodgkinson — Biography
Born on March 3, 2002, Keely Nicole Hodgkinson is a prominent English athlete specializing in middle-distance running. Her most significant achievement to date is her Olympic triumph in the 800 meters at the 2024 Summer Games, where she secured the gold medal. This victory added to her Olympic collection, which already included a silver medal in the same event from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Beyond her Olympic success, Hodgkinson boasts an impressive record in other major championships. She has claimed the European title in the 800 meters twice. On the global stage, she has earned two silver medals and a bronze in the 800 meters at World Championship events.
Hodgkinson also holds a world record for the indoor 800 meters and is the reigning 2026 World Indoor Champion. Furthermore, she possesses the world indoor best time for the 600 meters. In terms of outdoor performances, she is the holder of the British record for the 800 meters and ranks as the sixth fastest woman in history over that distance.
At just 19 years old, Hodgkinson made headlines by winning silver in the delayed 2020 Summer Olympics, shattering Kelly Holmes's long-standing British record from 1995. Her consistent performance continued with silver medal wins at the 2022 and 2023 World Championships, as well as the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Her dominance in European athletics is marked by her championship titles in 2022 and 2024, and she also secured European indoor titles in 2021 and 2023. In 2021, she was crowned the champion of the Diamond League finals in the 800 meters.
The 2024 Summer Olympics saw Hodgkinson lead the women's 800-meter final from the outset, ultimately breaking away in the closing 100 meters to clinch the gold medal ahead of Tsige Duguma and the then-reigning world champion Mary Moraa. Her exceptional year was further recognized when she was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year for 2024 and was appointed an MBE for her contributions to athletics in the 2025 New Year Honours list.
Beyond her Olympic success, Hodgkinson boasts an impressive record in other major championships. She has claimed the European title in the 800 meters twice. On the global stage, she has earned two silver medals and a bronze in the 800 meters at World Championship events.
Hodgkinson also holds a world record for the indoor 800 meters and is the reigning 2026 World Indoor Champion. Furthermore, she possesses the world indoor best time for the 600 meters. In terms of outdoor performances, she is the holder of the British record for the 800 meters and ranks as the sixth fastest woman in history over that distance.
At just 19 years old, Hodgkinson made headlines by winning silver in the delayed 2020 Summer Olympics, shattering Kelly Holmes's long-standing British record from 1995. Her consistent performance continued with silver medal wins at the 2022 and 2023 World Championships, as well as the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Her dominance in European athletics is marked by her championship titles in 2022 and 2024, and she also secured European indoor titles in 2021 and 2023. In 2021, she was crowned the champion of the Diamond League finals in the 800 meters.
The 2024 Summer Olympics saw Hodgkinson lead the women's 800-meter final from the outset, ultimately breaking away in the closing 100 meters to clinch the gold medal ahead of Tsige Duguma and the then-reigning world champion Mary Moraa. Her exceptional year was further recognized when she was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year for 2024 and was appointed an MBE for her contributions to athletics in the 2025 New Year Honours list.
