Olympic Champ Eyes 43-Year 800m Record in London

Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson is targeting one of the most legendary records in all of sports, and she wants to smash it in front of her home crowd.

The 24-year-old British runner has her eyes on the world 800m record of 1:53.28, set by Czech athlete Jarmila Kratochvilova way back in July 1983. That's 43 years of the record standing strong, making it the oldest world record in track and field.

Hodgkinson returns to London Stadium this July with serious momentum. She already proved she's in record-breaking form when she smashed the world indoor 800m record in February, capping off what she calls the best winter training block of her career.

After dealing with two hamstring injuries in 2024, Hodgkinson says she hasn't missed a single training session this winter. The Olympic gold medalist from Paris 2024 is healthy, hungry, and ready to make history.

Her teammate Josh Kerr is also chasing a world record at the same London meet, targeting the mile record that's stood since 1999. "It might be a battle of the world records," Hodgkinson joked. "Who can get a better one?"

The stadium crowd of 60,000 fans gives her extra fuel. "I get really excited about London and the crowd," she said. "As a British person, competing there is so much fun."

Why This Inspires

Hodgkinson's chase represents something bigger than just running fast. She's taking on a record that's older than she is, one that many thought might never fall. Her journey from injury setback to record-breaking form in just months shows the power of dedication and smart training.

Even better, she's not treating it like a sure thing. Hodgkinson knows the sport has its own plans, staying humble and flexible about when the magic moment might happen. She'll start her outdoor season in Rome on June 4, then race in Stockholm and Eugene before the big London showdown.

If the record doesn't fall in London, she'll have another shot at the European Championships in Birmingham in August. But wherever it happens, one thing is clear: British athletics fans are watching one of their greatest athletes chase immortality.

"We would sell out that stadium every single day," Hodgkinson said about bringing the 2029 World Championships back to London. With performances like she's planning, it's easy to see why.