Keely Hodgkinson’s Canal Fall Derails 800 m World Record Pursuit

In July, Olympic-champion Keely Hodgkinson tripped on a metal grill while jogging along a canal during a cooldown run. The sudden fall left her with bloody knees and a “jarred back,” an injury her team likened to a whiplash-type trauma. Hodgkinson now attributes the hamstring tear she suffered in the European Championships final to that earlier incident, saying the fall prevented her from using her quad and set the stage for the later muscle damage. The hamstring injury forced her to compete while compromised, undermining her bid to break the 800 m world record this summer.

The Guardian

At 24, Hodgkinson entered the year in peak form, breaking the indoor world record in February, winning the world indoor title in March, and posting a personal best outdoors in June. She had planned a world-record attempt for the summer, targeting the Athlos meeting in London. However, the canal accident and subsequent hamstring issue disrupted those ambitions, leaving her to focus on finishing the season on a competitive note rather than achieving the record.

The Guardian

Athlos acting president Kayla Green highlighted the event’s unique atmosphere, noting the red-carpet setting, celebrity attendance, and DJ Trauma’s music, and asserted that the competition’s athletic quality would be “second to none.” Hodgkinson expressed confidence despite the setbacks, emphasizing her ability to perform alongside the world’s best and her resolve to prove herself in less-than-ideal conditions.

The Guardian

• “Obviously I would have loved to tick every goal that I wanted to do this year, but I’m 24,” — Keely Hodgkinson

The Guardian

Hodgkinson will run her final race of the season at the Athlos meeting in London on Friday, aiming to end the year on a high note and assess her recovery ahead of future campaigns.

The Guardian