Keely Hodgkinson Battles Hamstring Injury, Secures Silver in Budapest Thriller!

Keely Hodgkinson, the formidable Olympic champion, has revealed she secured a remarkable second-place finish at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest despite battling a torn hamstring. Her performance saw her once again beaten by her rival, Audrey Werro, who continues to dominate the 800m event.

Werro claimed the $150,000 top prize, marking her second major victory over Hodgkinson and Femke Broeders-Bol this summer, following her triumph at the European Championships. Despite the loss, Hodgkinson expressed immense pride in her approach to the race.

On the outside, people might think I'm disappointed with that but I'm actually quite proud of how I approached that,

she explained.

The British athlete disclosed that she suffered the hamstring tear during the European Championships race in Birmingham just weeks prior, making her participation in Budapest "touch and go." Her swift and dedicated rehabilitation, alongside support from her team, allowed her to compete. "I was close and I was going for the win, but I'm proud of how I handled that," Hodgkinson added, acknowledging the challenging season she's faced.

Finishing second in the world, she feels she can't be too hard on herself and looks forward to rekindling her rivalry with Werro next season. This burgeoning rivalry, also featuring former 400m hurdler Femke Broeders-Bol, is shaping up to be a captivating saga in women's middle-distance running. Hodgkinson, who appeared unstoppable on her path to Olympic gold at Paris 2024, now embraces the challenge posed by her competitors.

"I honestly love it,” she stated.

I think it's really great for our sport and for women's sport to have so many amazing women pushing each other.

At just 24, she remains optimistic about her future, confident that her continuous fight for the top spot is something to be proud of and will propel her forward for many years to come.

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