Keely Hodgkinson has explained why she dedicates herself fully to running after being singled out by World Athletics president Seb Coe, who praised her down-to-earth nature. The Olympic champion, who recently celebrated her 24th birthday, has opened up about the sacrifices her career demands as she targets more success.
Coe's Praise for Hodgkinson
Earlier this year, between breaking the world indoor record and winning World Indoor Championship gold, Hodgkinson was seen celebrating her birthday. Two-time Olympic champion Coe subsequently hailed her as the most "authentic person I currently know."
Speaking on the UNTAPPED podcast, Coe said: "I was on my way out. I'd sort of done the early shift and she turned up, and it was her birthday. I mean, she'd only just broken 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 talented."
Coe added: "I'm probably going to lose whatever fan base I've got left in the south of England, but she's absolutely rooted to the north of England and that for me counts for a lot in life."
Sacrifices and Motivation
The night out was a rarity for Hodgkinson, whose demanding training and competition schedule means she does not enjoy the same freedom and social life as most 24-year-olds. She is motivated to prove her sacrifices are worthwhile as she chases further glory, with next year's World Championships and the 2028 Olympics as her next big targets.
Speaking at Nike's After Dark event in London, she was asked by DAZED who she runs for. She said: "Running is a very individual sport. I have to put myself and my training first, and that means missing out on certain things. So I guess it's everything I don't get to do. I'm out there to prove that all the work was for something."
Responding to Critics
Hodgkinson does not take kindly to people who question her work ethic on social media, where she gives a glimpse of her life away from the track. While most of her posts are well received by fans, a minority of followers unfairly question her commitment to the sport.
Speaking about her social media presence, she told Sky Sports: "It's purely for fun, I don't think too deeply about it. Athletes have a lot of time to kill, I can't run around all day!" Addressing those who question her work ethic, she added: "I get a lot of comments about that, which really irritates me. I'm like, 'If only you'd known what I'd done today [in training]!'"
Hodgkinson's current schedule is less intense now that the outdoor season has ended, during which she took silver in the 800m at the European Championships before winning at London's Diamond League meeting. She then finished second at the new Ultimate Championships in Budapest before storming to victory at the all-female Athlos meeting, sporting her new Nike catsuit.
