Paris 2024: ‘Felt like a home Olympics for me’ - Keely Hodgkinson comes of age to emulate British idols
Updated 05/08/2024 at 23:57 GMT+1
Keely Hodgkinson etched her name into the history books on Monday in Paris, becoming just the 10th British woman Olympian to claim athletics gold. The 22-year-old dominated from the front to comfortably win the women's 800m final from Ethiopia’s Tsige Duguma. She took silver at Tokyo 2020 and the 2022 and 2023 World Championships, but now boasts a gold medal at a global event.
Watch thrilling finish as Hodgkinson grabs gold for Team GB in 800m
Video credit: TNT Sports
Keely Hodgkinson admitted it was “so crazy” to follow in the footsteps of some of Great Britain’s most iconic women athletes and capture Olympic gold.
The 22-year-old dominated the women’s 800m final on Monday evening in Paris to become just the 10th British woman to win athletics gold at an Olympics, joining the likes of Denise Lewis, Kelly Holmes and Jessica Ennis-Hill.
And, although she conceded it was anything but, she made it look easy, blowing away the field to cross the line well clear of her nearest rivals before the emotion poured out.
“It’s something I’ve dreamed of that it hasn’t sunk in yet,” Hodgkinson told Eurosport. “I’ve worked so hard for this, the crowd was incredible.
“It felt like a home Olympics for me, there were so many Brits in the stadium cheering me on. To celebrate that moment with all of them means so much.”
On emulating some of Britain’s most successful Olympians, she added: “It’s super surreal, I’ve looked up to Jessica Ennis so much, so to be an Olympic champion like her, is so crazy.
“I’m super happy to fulfil what I knew I could do.”
Hodgkinson had long been touted as an Olympic champion in waiting but there were question marks around her ability to produce her best when the stakes were highest.
She claimed silver as a teenager at the Tokyo 2020 Games and had to settle for second again at the 2022 and 2023 World Championships as her wait for a global title went on.
In the French capital, she put to bed any doubts about her pedigree and place in the sport.
“I’m relieved because of the amount of pressure I had,” she continued. “It’s the most difficult position I’ve been in. it’s really tough, going through the rounds.
“They’re the worst part for me as I had to make sure to get here. It’s not given out; I’m not given the medal until I cross that line in first place.”
- Duplantis smashes world record to take back-to-back pole vault golds
- 'That was dreadful!' - Huge controversy as Hassan gets silver after Kipyegon DQ
The 22-year-old forced her way to the front in the early stages and did not relent. Just as she did in the semi-finals, she backed herself to dictate proceedings from the front and proved too strong for those around her.
Many had backed Kenya’s Mary Moraa for the win, but she could not live with Hodgkinson when the Brit kicked for home in the closing 100m.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2024/08/05/4020020-81538053-2560-1440.jpg)
Hodgkinson admits 'it hasn't sunk in yet' but she's going to 'enjoy tonight'
Video credit: TNT Sports
In the end, Moraa had to settle for bronze as Ethiopia’s Tsige Duguma snatched silver, but this was all about one woman.
Hodgkinson showed exactly why she was the favourite coming into the Olympics and was proud of the resilience she has had to rely on to get to the point.
“On paper it looks like it’s mine to lose, I’ve come into a championship ranked No. 1 before and I haven’t crossed the line in first,” she said.
“To do that, I’ve really dug deep this year, it hasn’t gone smoothly, I’ve been injured, I’ve had loads of stuff going on in my personal life, dealing with growing up as a 22-year-old. It shows how resilient I am and how much I wanted it.”
‘She is the best in the world’ – Thomas
Eurosport pundit Iwan Thomas paid tribute to Hodgkinson in the aftermath of her victory as she won GB’s first Olympic gold medal on the track since Mo Farah at Rio 2016.
“She is the best in the world this year and rightly so,” Thomas said. “She got to the front and she stayed there, she didn’t let anyone bother her and look at that, it was a clear margin of victory in the end and I am just really chuffed for her.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2024/08/05/4020012-81537893-2560-1440.jpg)
'Her life will change forever' - Reaction to Hodgkinson's gold medal run
Video credit: TNT Sports
“She was an Olympic silver medallist before tonight and that meant nothing to her, it’s all about getting the gold and she has worked so hard for it. It’s our first track and field gold medal.
“I am just chuffed for her, because she deserves this. She has been so good for years and is a real example to any young athlete that you should keep going towards your dream, because she dreamt of this moment and it’s her moment now.
“When this sinks in, she’s already a superstar, but when she gets home her life will change forever.”
- - -
discovery+ is the streaming home of the Olympic Games, and the only place you can watch every moment of Paris 2024 this summer
Related Topics
Advertisement
Advertisement