Team GB star Keely Hodgkinson has a range of personal tattoos that are visible as she competes at the European Athletics Championships. Each piece carries a distinct meaning, from commemorating her Olympic gold to honouring family.
Paris Olympic tribute
To mark her 2024 Paris Olympics gold medal, Hodgkinson got a neck tattoo of the words 'amour' (French for 'love') and 'Paris' tucked behind her ear. She explained: "I prefer getting the little ones to like the [Olympic] rings – I think that’s just a bit more me." She cherishes the discreet nature of the piece, explaining they serve as "a nice little reminder" of her triumphant summer, adding: "The Paris one behind my ear, you can’t really see."
Family and Tokyo tributes
The middle-distance runner also has a tattoo of several stars, which serves as a deeply personal family tribute. This specific design was chosen and inked to permanently represent and honour her late maternal grandparents.
Prior to her breakout performance at the delayed 2020 Games, Hodgkinson promised herself she would get a tattoo representing Tokyo and followed through by getting the city in Japanese characters on her left bicep. This piece was planned to celebrate her journey to the world stage, where she ultimately secured an Olympic silver medal at 19.
Early designs and matching ink
Among her earliest pieces of body art, the athlete has a small tattoo depicting her star sign, Pisces, on her right wrist. This design was part of the original trio of tattoos she had already collected before competing in the Tokyo Olympics.
Rounding out her known collection of delicate ink is a simple heart tattoo. This is part of a matching set alongside one of her childhood friends.
