Keely Hodgkinson has once again demonstrated her genuine character ahead of her 400 metres Diamond League debut in Rome on Thursday. The 24-year-old Team GB star, who won Olympic gold in Paris 2024 and silver in Tokyo 2020, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to compete against the world's best.
Humble Words from a Champion
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Hodgkinson said: 'I am really excited for tomorrow. I am grateful to have the opportunity to race some of the best girls in the world. I am very privileged to be on that start line with them, so I am hoping they pull something great out of me. I'll be using tomorrow as a stimulus of fun, to be competitive and to also do something different.'
She added: 'I am genuinely in a place in my life where I have everything that I can want. I am happy, I love what I do. I wake up and go to work every day, I just love it.'
Coe's Praise
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe recently lauded Hodgkinson's authenticity. Speaking on The Sports Agents podcast, Coe recalled encountering her during her birthday celebrations and noted her grounded nature. He said: 'I love Keely because you will only get authenticity. There's none of this "Oh, I'll see how I feel tomorrow" or "One match at a time" - she absolutely tells it as it is. I think she's joyous company apart from anything.'
Coe, 69, also referenced Hodgkinson's playful social media jab at West Ham United, where she boasted that the GB team would bring more medals to the Olympic Stadium than the football club. 'Keely's not wrong. I'm pleased she knows her worth... she's off-the-graph good but if you look statistically she's still got a couple of years before she hits her peak,' Coe added.
Preparing for Dominance
Hodgkinson shattered the indoor world record over 800m in February and is using the 400m Diamond League race as preparation to maintain her dominance in the 800m. Despite her elite status, her humble demeanour sets her apart in the fiercely competitive world of athletics.
