Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson pulls out of the Keely Klassic due to a hamstring injury, ending her world record hopes.
Olympics 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson has been left devastated after a hamstring injury forced her to withdraw from her highly anticipated world record attempt at the Keely Klassic.
The British middle-distance star was aiming to break the long-standing indoor 800m world record at the inaugural event named in her honor, but a training setback on Wednesday has dashed those hopes.
Hodgkinson’s withdrawal from the race, set to take place at Birmingham’s Utilita Arena on Saturday, is a significant blow to both the athlete and the event organizers, who had hoped to see her headline the competition.
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The 22-year-old was in prime form leading up to the meet and had expressed confidence in breaking the 1:55.82 mark set by Slovenia’s Jolanda Ceplak in 2002—the very day Hodgkinson was born.
“I’m devastated to be missing the launch of the Keely Klassic,” Hodgkinson admitted as per Daily Mail.
“When I got the news this afternoon, I shed a tear. I’ve worked so hard for this moment and was in the best shape of my life.”
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The injury now puts her participation in the upcoming European Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn, Netherlands, in serious doubt.
Furthermore, she faces a tight recovery window to be fit in time for the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China—a title she has never won but had heavily targeted for 2024.
However, Hodgkinson remains committed to the success of the event, emphasizing that the meet is about more than just her individual performance.
“But 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 added in the statement also shared on her Instagram.
“I’ll be in Birmingham on Saturday doing everything I can to make sure it’s an amazing night for the athletes and the fans.”
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She is determined to play an active role in ensuring that the event maintains its excitement, engaging with spectators and inspiring young athletes despite her inability to compete.
The Keely Klassic has already been hit by multiple withdrawals, with 2022 world 1500m champion Jake Wightman also pulling out earlier this week due to injury.
Olympic 1500m bronze medallist Georgia Bell and world indoor pole vault champion Molly Caudery remain among the top names in the field but absence of Hodgkinson and Wightman is a significant setback.
