Keely Hodgkinson is set to make her long-awaited return to the 800m on Saturday at the Diamond League meeting in Silesia, Poland, ending a 375-day absence from competition due to injuries. The Olympic gold medallist, 23, has been sidelined since her victory in Paris last year, battling persistent hamstring issues.
Hodgkinson admitted the past year has been challenging, marked by tears and frustration. She had hoped to return earlier, including at the London Diamond League, but was forced to wait until she felt 100% ready. 'Missing London was hardest for me because I just wanted to be there in front of my home crowd,' she said.
The British athlete will face a strong field in Poland, including Oratile Nowe of Botswana, who holds the season's best time of 1:57.49, and European Championships runner-up Gabriela Gajanova. If the race goes well, Hodgkinson plans to compete again four days later at the Diamond League in Lausanne.
With the World Championships in Tokyo just a month away, Hodgkinson acknowledges she has limited time to regain sharpness. However, she remains optimistic, describing Saturday's race as 'a stepping stone' toward her ultimate goal. 'I'm just excited to put something together and be competitive again,' she added.
