Keely Hodgkinson admits to being 'in shock' by comeback as Brit claims record-breaking Diamond League win in Lausanne
Published 20/08/2025 at 22:27 GMT+1
Keely Hodgkinson followed up her brilliant Diamond League 800m victory in Poland with another win in Lausanne on Wednesday night. Britain's Olympic champion claimed a dominant victory, breaking the meeting record in torrential weather conditions. And she admitted to being "in shock" at how well her comeback from injury is going, with the World Championships in Tokyo fast approaching.
Watch thrilling finish as Hodgkinson grabs gold for Team GB in 800m
Video credit: TNT Sports
Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson admitted she was "in shock" as her impressive comeback from injury gathered even more pace in Lausanne on Wednesday night.
Hodgkinson produced a dominant display to win the women's 800m at the latest Diamond League event in a meet-record time of 1:55.69.
That followed on from her brilliant 800m win in Saturday's Diamond League event in Poland, when she ran the world's fastest time of the year so far - 1:54.47.
These have been her only runs of 2025 due to a hamstring injury, but she is already looking in very decent form with September's World Championships in Tokyo - which will be live on TNT Sports and discovery+ - now just a few weeks away.
"I couldn’t have asked for a better start, I’m a bit in shock myself," Hodgkinson told the BBC.
"I train well, I train really hard for moments like this, but when it all comes together, it makes it extra special.
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Keely Hodgkinson crosses the finish line for 800m victory in Lausanne last month
Image credit: Getty Images
"[My coach] Trevor [Painter] said to me a few weeks ago, ‘you are actually ahead of schedule - I wanted you to be here by the time we are in Tokyo’, so to be here now is amazing.
"Hopefully we can stay healthy and build on top of what we’ve got, and let’s see what can happen.
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"I feel a little bit relieved. I felt like this race was definitely going to be more of a challenge, but taking on a pace like that you’ve just got to run and forget about everybody else.
"I’m glad it paid off. I feel like I’ve really backed up my 1:54 with a solid 1:55. We are seeing improvements all the time, so I’m happy."
Hodgkinson stormed to victory ahead of Switzerland's Audrey Werro (1:57.34). Britain's Georgia Hunter Bell, a training partner of Hodgkinson, finished in third (1:57.55).
Hodgkinson, 23, gave Britain a truly golden moment with her 800m victory at last year's Paris Olympic Games, and she is setting her sights on adding another global crown next month.
Weather conditions were atrocious in Lausanne - with the rain at times torrential - and they worsened throughout the night.
Hunter Bell, 1,500m bronze medallist at last year's Olympics, has been considering running an 800m-1,500m double in Japan.
But she admitted after the race in Lausanne that she had not yet made up her mind.
"I don't know, I'm going to decide this week," she said. "I'm running out of time to make a decision. Every day I change my mind."
The World Championships in Tokyo begin on September 13, and run through to September 21.
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