Keely Hodgkinson has defended the all-black Nike Speedsuit she debuted at the Athlos meet in London last month, saying it makes her feel like she is running naked. The Olympic champion wore the outfit while dominating the 800 metres at the all-female event.
The catsuit, which drew comparisons to Catwoman, sparked debate across sport, with some questioning its legality. Nothing has emerged to suggest it breaches the rules, and Hodgkinson has hinted she could wear it, or something similar, at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Inspired by Cathy Freeman
The suit was partly inspired by Australian legend Cathy Freeman, who wore a similar outfit when she won gold in the 400m at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. Hodgkinson said: "[Freeman] was before I was born, but I have seen the race and photos. It was really cool to draw inspiration from the past and make it your own as well. The style was a big thing for me."
She added: "I wanted to be comfortable but I wanted to feel a little bit sexy, the back's open and that makes it feel really cool. It feels like I'm wearing nothing to be honest."
Coaches' support
Hodgkinson has the backing of her coaches, Ron and Jenny Meadows, even though Jenny was initially taken aback. She told Athletics Weekly: "Keely is an innovator, she's always wanted to do things differently and she's a big lover of fashion."
"She shouted over, 'Trev and Jen, what do you think of this?' My initial reaction was like, 'Oh, you've got to be brave to wear that.' And Trevor was kind of like, 'Yeah, you look Catwoman, Go for it. It's so you.' Nike were so respectful of us as coaches because they obviously wanted us to be really, really comfortable with it."
Jenny Meadows continued: "Because at the end of the day, we think about performance and it's not just what you look like. You've got to think: Is it faster or is it just a gimmick? You've actually got to walk out in front of an audience the first time and you've got to win in that thing. It's a statement piece."
Performance and style
Hodgkinson believes the suit meets legal standards. While aerodynamics were of the utmost importance, she negotiated one critical compromise. She said: "The science was like technically with the air drag you’re slower with your hair out, but I was like, 'That's a non-negotiable. My hair is staying out.' I'm very much, 'Look good, feel good.'"
