Keely Hodgkinson Seeks Redemption in London 800m

Keely Hodgkinson, the 24-year-old Olympic 800m champion, is set to compete in the women's 800m at the Diamond League meeting in London on Saturday, July 18, 2026. After a disappointing start to the summer season, Hodgkinson is looking to regain her form and prove herself against a strong field.

What happened?

Hodgkinson has had a frustrating outdoor season, failing to win a Diamond League race despite improving her own British record. She broke the 24-year-old world indoor record in Lievin in February, but suffered a shock defeat by Switzerland's Audrey Werro, who ran the third-fastest 800m in history to win the race. Two weeks later, Hodgkinson pulled out of the 400m final at the UK Athletics Championships in tears after feeling a hamstring twinge.

Why it matters for Keely Hodgkinson

Hodgkinson's main focus is on "winning and being back on top" after a difficult few weeks. She has been training hard and feels "in really good shape" for the London meeting. However, she is not putting pressure on herself to break the world record, which has stood since 1983. "I don't need to chase anything just because anybody else wants it to be done," she said.

What comes next?

Hodgkinson will face tough competition in the women's 800m, including Olympic silver medallist Tsige Duguma from Ethiopia and Dutch star Femke Broeders-Bol, who has made rapid strides since moving up from 400m to 800m this season. The London Athletics Meet will be broadcast live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 13:00 BST, while there will be live text commentary and video highlights on the BBC Sport website and app.

Hodgkinson's rivals will be looking to capitalize on her recent struggles, but the British athlete is confident in her abilities. "I'm in really good shape and in a really good place," she said. "I think fast times come from great races. If that's Saturday, then great, if it's in a few weeks or next year, I don't care."

The Diamond League meeting in London promises to be an exciting event, with a star-studded lineup that includes pole vault world record holder Armand Duplantis and men's 100m world champion Oblique Seville. The competition will be fierce, but Hodgkinson is determined to come out on top.

On Saturday, July 18, 2026, Hodgkinson will line up in the women's 800m at 15:51 BST, looking to bounce back from a disappointing summer season. With a capacity 60,000 crowd cheering her on, she will be determined to prove herself against a strong field.

The London Athletics Meet will be broadcast live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 13:00 BST, while there will be live text commentary and video highlights on the BBC Sport website and app. Don't miss the action as Keely Hodgkinson seeks redemption in the women's 800m.

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