Keely Hodgkinson has opened up about her personal life following comments by World Athletics president Sebastian Coe, who praised her humble and authentic attitude. The 24-year-old British runner, who won 800m gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics and another gold at this year's World Indoor Championships, remains remarkably down-to-earth despite her global fame.
Hodgkinson's Secret to Staying Grounded
In an interview with Runners World, Hodgkinson was asked how she keeps her success from going to her head. She credited her friends and family. "I would say friends and family. I think it's so important who you have around you – they influence what you believe and who you become," she said. "I have really great friends and amazing family. I love them very much. And I just like spending time with them, not talking about anything to do with what I do, just being Keely the daughter, the sister, the older sister."
Hodgkinson also revealed her habit of picking up new hobbies each month. "Currently it's kick-ups. Every time I'm in the gym with the boys, we're always kicking a football around, and I just thought, I really want to do an 'around the world'. So that's this month's hobby," she said. Past hobbies include piano lessons, learning a language, and even DJing.
Sebastian Coe's Praise
Sebastian Coe, the World Athletics president and two-time Olympic 1500m gold medalist, appeared on the UNTAPPED podcast where he spoke highly of Hodgkinson. "What I love about Keely is she is probably the most, forget athletics, she's probably the most authentic person I currently know," Coe said. "What you see with Keely is what you get. She is very funny, she's totally driven, but she puts things in perspective."
Coe recalled bumping into Hodgkinson at a restaurant shortly after she broke the indoor world record. "She was only literally a few days away from destroying the field and winning her world indoor title and she was just out celebrating her birthday. She's just completely normal, but she is incredibly well talented. She's got a great coaching team around her."
Upcoming Challenge
This Saturday at the London Stadium, Hodgkinson aims to challenge Jarmila Kratochvilova's long-standing world record in the women's 800m. She is motivated by a painful injury sustained at a Diamond League event earlier this month. Hodgkinson's down-to-earth nature and diverse interests, including DJing, hint at her plans after athletics. "Nothing can really replace the feeling of what we do, but I'm hoping that when the time rolls around, that I get to finish on my terms and I'm ready to step away," she said. "If you see me in Ibiza, you'll know it was the DJing!"
