Olympic gold medalist Keely Hodgkinson has voiced her frustration over a common misconception about professional athletes: that they have no life outside their sport. Her comments come shortly after World Athletics president Seb Coe praised her down-to-earth nature following a chance encounter.
Hodgkinson's Frustration with Public Expectations
Speaking on fellow athlete Jeremiah Azu's podcast Time to ZOOM In, Hodgkinson highlighted the unfair pressure athletes face from the public. "One of my biggest things is [people] thinking we don't have a life outside of [athletics]," she said. "I hate that so much."
The 24-year-old 800m star, who is reportedly worth millions, explained that fans often expect her to live like a monk. She recounted her experience during an injury last year: "I'll just be carrying on my life, seeing friends, seeing family. Do you think I'm sat at home crying? But at the same time, I'm rehabbing every day."
Hodgkinson revealed that the stress of her hamstring injury led to a physical reaction: "I got so stressed during my hamstring injuries last year, I broke out in this crazy rash." She emphasized, "Just because you see this on socials, I'm not a robot, we all have lives outside of this. It's not the be-all end-all."
Seb Coe's Praise for Hodgkinson's Character
World Athletics president Seb Coe, 69, encountered Hodgkinson in Manchester while she was celebrating her birthday. He was struck by her grounded personality. "What you see with Keely is what you get," Coe said. "She is very funny, she's totally driven, but she puts things in perspective."
Coe noted that Hodgkinson was "only a few days away from destroying the field and winning her world indoor title" yet was "just out celebrating her birthday. She's just completely normal, but she is incredibly well talented." He added, "She's absolutely rooted to the north of England and that for me counts for a lot in life."
Hodgkinson's Achievements
Hodgkinson claimed Olympic gold in the 800m at Paris 2024 and set a new world record for the women's indoor 600m the year before. Despite these accolades, she remains down-to-earth, a trait Coe found refreshing. Hodgkinson's message to fans is clear: enjoying life outside sport does not diminish an athlete's focus or dedication.
