Keely Hodgkinson Targets 800m World Record After Paris Triumph

Keely Hodgkinson, the newly crowned Olympic gold medalist in the 800 meters, has set her sights on breaking one of athletics' most enduring records. The 22-year-old British runner, who triumphed in Paris, is now aiming to shatter the women's 800m world record that has stood for over four decades.

The record, set by Czech athlete Jarmila Kratochvilova, has remained unbroken since July 1983. Kratochvilova's time of 1:53.28 was achieved at Munich’s Olympic Stadium and has since become a legendary benchmark in middle-distance running.

Hodgkinson’s recent performances indicate she is closing in on this historic mark. Her winning time at the Paris Olympics was 1:56.72, but she has demonstrated significant progress since then, clocking an impressive 1:54.61 at a London meet in July.

At a special 'Team GB's Homecoming' event held at Manchester's AO Arena, Hodgkinson expressed her ambition with renewed confidence. "It's definitely something I've thought about since I raced in London," she said. "I think that record has stood for so long. It's been a long time since anyone has hit [one minute] 53 seconds, so I'd love to do that. I think I can. I now believe I can do that."

With her sights firmly set on breaking Kratochvilova’s longstanding record, Hodgkinson is poised to make a significant impact on the athletics world, adding a new chapter to her already impressive career.