Keely Hodgkinson’s star continues to rise in the world of track and field, with the 23-year-old British sensation now standing closer than ever to shattering the most enduring record in women’s athletics: the outdoor 800-meter world record. After a dazzling indoor season that saw her rewrite the record books in Liévin, France, Hodgkinson’s sights are now set on the outdoor mark—an achievement that would cement her legacy as one of the sport’s all-time greats.
The magnitude of Hodgkinson’s ambition cannot be overstated. The women’s 800m outdoor world record, a blazing 1:53.28 set by Czechoslovakia’s Jarmila Kratochvilova on July 26, 1983, has stood unchallenged for nearly 43 years. In an era where world records are frequently toppled thanks to advancements in sports science and training, Kratochvilova’s benchmark remains untouched—a testament to both the achievement itself and the questions it has raised over time. Allegations of systematic doping in Czechoslovakia during the 1980s have long surrounded the record, though Kratochvilova has always denied wrongdoing. Regardless, the time has presented an almost mythical challenge to generations of middle-distance runners.
Hodgkinson’s pursuit of this historic barrier is as much about legacy as it is about speed. “I think the outdoor record would be cemented GOAT (greatest of all time),” she told BBC Sport. “It’s stood for a long time and been a long time since anyone’s been able to get near it. I do think it’s possible. It’s a difficult record and a reason why it has stood for 40 odd years. It’s literally the oldest record on track so it will be a real accomplishment to get near it and hopefully break it. I think this is the closest I’ve felt near it. I do really believe that we can break it, but a lot of things have got to come together.”
Her confidence isn’t unfounded. On February 19, 2026, Hodgkinson stormed to a new indoor world record in Liévin, crossing the line in 1:54.87. That run broke a mark set on her own birthday in 2002 by a convicted doper, and it marked a significant leap in her progression. Lord Sebastian Coe, former 800m world record-holder and now World Athletics president, was quick to praise both Hodgkinson’s “mahogany hard” resolve and her “fluid running style,” noting the unique physical and mental demands of the 800m event. “The 800m is perhaps the most complicated event on the track,” Coe observed, highlighting the rare combination of sprinting speed and endurance required to excel. “Achieving a world record in this discipline requires not only peak 400m sprinting speed but also an impressive capacity for sustained effort.”
Hodgkinson’s journey to this point has been anything but straightforward. After her breakthrough silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, she added further silvers at the World Championships and Commonwealth Games in 2022, and another at the 2023 World Championships. The crowning glory came in Paris in 2024, where she finally captured Olympic gold. But just months after her triumph, Hodgkinson suffered a torn hamstring—a setback that left her unable to train and forced her to confront the fragility of athletic success. “After winning the Olympics, it really wasn’t what I thought was going to happen,” she reflected. “It makes you stop and strip back everything and think, why is this happening? What are the problems? But, we got through it, I became a stronger person, and I think this is now the reward of all of that happening.”
Her resilience paid off. By early 2026, Hodgkinson had returned to full fitness, storming back onto the scene with her record-breaking indoor performance. Her coach, Jenny Meadows, believes there is still more to come: “The athlete’s time in Liévin could have been up to one second faster—and Hodgkinson is aiming higher still.” Hodgkinson herself echoed that optimism: “I’ve known for weeks I’m capable of breaking it. It’s just a matter of getting out on the day. We can push it even further in the future, as long as I stay healthy and I think this is hopefully just the beginning.”
The technical complexity of the 800m is not lost on Hodgkinson or her team. Her recent indoor record was set with a rapid first lap of 56 seconds, a tactic praised by Coe as essential for high-performance goals. Her training regimen is reportedly a meticulous blend of speed work and endurance, designed to maximize her ability to maintain a blistering pace over two laps. Mental preparation is just as critical. Coach Trevor Painter even bought her a giant Himalayan salt lamp to “send happy vibes,” a lighthearted reminder of the importance of psychological well-being in elite sport. “He says my moods were unpredictable last year,” Hodgkinson joked. “It’s meant to calm the energy in the atmosphere. It weighs about forty kilograms, so imagine me trying to carry it up the stairs, but I actually think it worked!”
Hodgkinson’s consistent success has made her a fixture on the podium at major championships, and her personal best of 1:54.61, set in London in 2024, places her tantalizingly close to the outdoor record. “We’re on the right path and we’ve seen evidence in training that we think that it’s possible,” she said. “I think the reason this year has gone so well for me is because I’ve had my healthiest winter training I’ve had in years.”
As she prepares for the 2025 season, Hodgkinson’s calendar will be carefully managed to maximize her chances. Key events—including the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Poland this March, where she is the favorite for gold—will serve as both tests and stepping stones. Outdoors, she may target races in London, a city she describes as “very special,” hoping to perform in front of a home crowd. “My coach did say two years ago that 2026 will be a good year,” she revealed, hinting at the strategic planning behind her record attempt.
The competition is heating up, too. Dutch 400m hurdles star Femke Bol, a friend and training partner, has recently stepped up to the 800m, setting a Dutch national record of 1:59.07 in Metz. Hodgkinson welcomes the challenge: “Femke is a very talented woman, but I also know what it takes to run the 800m at these times. Just give her some time [and] she’ll get there.”
With advancements in anti-doping measures and a new era of transparency in athletics, Hodgkinson’s achievements are helping to restore faith in the sport’s integrity. Her pursuit of the 800m outdoor world record is more than a personal quest—it’s a symbol of the relentless drive to push the boundaries of human performance. As the 2025 season unfolds, all eyes will be on Hodgkinson, hopeful that she can finally rewrite one of the sport’s most storied records.
For now, the anticipation builds. Hodgkinson’s form, determination, and belief suggest that history could be made sooner rather than later. Should she succeed, her name will be etched alongside the legends of middle-distance running, inspiring a new generation to chase greatness on the track.