Keely Hodgkinson brought the curtain down on her 2026 season in spectacular fashion on Friday, delivering a dominant display at Athlos in London while debuting a cutting-edge full-length, hooded Nike speed suit.
Competing at the StoneX Stadium in the all-women’s event—founded by Reddit co-founder and entrepreneur Alexis Ohanian—the 24-year-old cruised to victory in 1:56.40. The win allowed Hodgkinson to successfully defend her Athlos title, providing a high note to a campaign that has been marred by physical setbacks.
Despite the clinical nature of her performance, Hodgkinson revealed this week that she is currently managing an “abnormality” in her hamstring. Following an MRI scan, it was discovered that the athlete’s anatomy is highly unusual; she possesses a “split” tendon rather than a singular one.
“My body is quite literally built differently,” Hodgkinson explained after the race. “Where most people have one tendon, mine is split—I have two—and we’re trying to figure out if it’s a strength or a weakness. When one of them tore in Birmingham, I still had the other one, which allowed me to keep running. I’ve had to alter my approach and take my foot off the speed work, as that’s when it’s most risky.”
The injury, sustained during the European Championships, forced her to miss the last two Diamond League meetings. It has been a challenging year for the Briton, who has faced increasing pressure from a rising generation of middle-distance talent. Switzerland’s Audrey Werro has emerged as a major rival, usurping Hodgkinson in the rankings after defeating her at both the European Championships and the Ultimate Championships.
The battle for the women’s 800m world record has become the sport’s most anticipated narrative. The long-standing record of 1:53.28, set by Jarmila Kratochvilova in 1983, remains the gold standard, though it continues to be clouded by historic doping allegations surrounding the era. Hodgkinson, who secured an indoor world record earlier this year in February, remains committed to chasing the outdoor mark alongside Werro and the Netherlands’ Femke Bol.
While her rivals were absent from the London track on Friday, Hodgkinson’s performance served as a powerful statement of her resilience. Beyond the track, she drew significant attention for her bespoke apparel.
“It’s pretty sick,” Hodgkinson said of her hooded speed suit. “This is a project I’ve been working on with Nike for a long time. This is the place to bring it out—speed meeting style. It went down a treat. Life is about enjoying it, and hopefully, the youngsters can see this and get their time one day.”
Having navigated a difficult physical recovery, Hodgkinson now looks toward a period of rehabilitation and preparation, aiming to return to peak form for a 2027 season defined by the pursuit of history.
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