LONDON — The coaching team behind Olympic 800 metres champion Keely Hodgkinson said that she could break athletics’ longest-standing world record as early as next year.
The 22-year-old British middle-distance runner took gold at this year’s Paris Olympics, following her silver medal at the Covid-delayed 2020 Tokyo Games.
Hodgkinson set a personal best of 1 minute 54.61 seconds at the London Diamond meeting in July.
That time, however, is still significantly shy of the 800m world record of 1:53.28 set by Jarmila Kratochvilova, which has stood for 41 years.
But in common with several world records set in the early 1980s, Kratochvilova’s time has been clouded by allegations of doping — all of which the Czech athlete has denied.
For all the record has stood since 1983, Trevor Painter — one half of Hodgkinson’s coaching team alongside life partner Jenny Meadows — believes the circumstances are now right for it to be lowered at last.
“I wouldn’t rule (2025) out,” Painter said according to AFP after Meadows was named the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year.
“Next year might be too soon, because it’s a big leap and there’s not many people at 1:54 let alone 1:53, but with the advances in shoe technology and the advances in track technology, and the advances in our growth as a team and as a unit and pushing Keely, then yeah.”
Painter collected the Coach of the Year award alongside Meadows who suggested 2026 might be a better target.
“We’re definitely nudging our way towards it,” she said.
“A couple of years ago we would never have been looking at that world record thinking it was possible, but now you start getting a little bit giddy and excited, but trying to be realistic at the same time.
Hodgkinson’s victory was the pinnacle of an extraordinary year that also included retaining her European 800m title in Rome and setting a new British record of 1:54.61 at the London Diamond League, making her the sixth-fastest woman in history.
“I’m in a bit of shock,” Hodgkinson admitted during her acceptance speech on BBC One.
“I’m more excited for my coach because I wouldn’t be here without his guidance. This year has been incredible, and I achieved everything I set out to do on the outdoor track. I hope you loved watching Paris.”
Hodgkinson’s triumph in Paris ended a three-year pursuit of Olympic gold following her silver-medal performance in Tokyo in 2020. In the interim, she also claimed two World Championship silvers, proving herself a consistent force on the international stage. Yet, the elusive gold medal finally came dominantly this year, solidifying her as one of Britain’s most exceptional middle-distance runners.
Her victory in Paris marked Team GB’s first Olympic track title since Mo Farah’s 5,000m and 10,000m double at Rio 2016 and the first by a British woman in athletics since Jessica Ennis-Hill’s heptathlon gold at London 2012.
Hodgkinson also became the 10th British woman to win an athletics Olympic gold medal.
Beyond the Olympics, Hodgkinson’s season included her continued dominance in Europe. She successfully defended her European Championship title in Rome, showcasing her consistency and ability to deliver under pressure.
Her historic run at the London Diamond League also captured attention. She shattered her British record, inching closer to the world record of 1:53.28, set by Jarmila Kratochvilova in 1983.
Hodgkinson’s success was celebrated alongside her coaches, Trevor Painter and Jenny Meadows, who received the prestigious Coach of the Year award.
“This award is as much theirs as mine,” Hodgkinson said, acknowledging their pivotal role in her development from a promising teenager to an international champion.
Her victory continues a notable trend of female winners for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award, with Hodgkinson following in the footsteps of goalkeeper Mary Earps (2023), footballer Beth Mead (2022), and tennis star Emma Raducanu (2021).
Luke Littler, the rising star of darts, took second place, while England cricketing legend Joe Root finished third.
The shortlist also included Jude Bellingham, Sarah Storey, and Alex Yee, underscoring the depth of British sporting talent in 2024.
Hodgkinson’s achievement was hailed as a breakthrough moment for her career and British athletics.
Throughout the year, she went undefeated in the 800m. Then, she delivered on years of promise with a commanding performance at the Olympics that silenced doubts about her ability to claim the top prize on the biggest stage.
A little-known teenager when she burst onto the scene with silver in Tokyo, Hodgkinson has since established herself as one of the world’s elite middle-distance runners, consistently battling fierce competition from Athing Mu and Mary Moraa. With Paris gold in hand, Hodgkinson now sees an even loftier goal: breaking the world record for over four decades.
