Birmingham (GNP): Keely Hodgkinson says claiming European gold in front of her home crowd in Birmingham this week would feel almost as special as her Olympic title win in Paris.
Hodgkinson headlines the European Athletics Championships as they arrive in Britain for the first time in the event’s 92-year history, and says the added attention only fuels her motivation rather than adding pressure.
She noted that having family in attendance and potentially hearing the British national anthem play at the podium would mean nearly as much to her as her Paris victory.
Part of the excitement, she said, comes from knowing the world’s four fastest 800m runners of 2026 will all be competing, including Switzerland’s Audrey Werro, who stunned Hodgkinson in June with a time of 1:53.98 — the third-fastest in the event’s history.
Despite the strong field, which also includes former 400m hurdles world champion Femke Bol, Hodgkinson maintains she remains the best in the world over two laps and is looking forward to proving it.
She described the race as exactly what she trains for, noting that despite facing strong challengers throughout her career, she has medaled at every major championship she’s competed in.
She said the rising standard of competition in Europe has made the continental title feel just as meaningful and exciting as a world championship.
Recovery from Injury
Hodgkinson also confirmed she is back to full fitness after injuring both knees in a fall onto a metal grate in late June.
She said she feels in a good place heading into competition despite a difficult patch over the summer, noting that her knees have fully healed and that while the injury caused significant pain and swelling, it didn’t force her to miss any training.
Team GB’s Outlook
Britain hopes for a strong start to the championships on Monday, with Amy Hunt favored for gold in the women’s 100m ahead of defending champion Dina Asher-Smith and Poland’s Ewa Swoboda.
Hodgkinson’s own 800m campaign begins Tuesday, with semifinals Thursday and the final on Friday.
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Hodgkinson expressed confidence in Britain’s medal prospects overall, suggesting the team could produce a few surprise results and that strong performances across the squad could help inspire the next generation of athletes.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
