British athletics sensation Keely Hodgkinson has delivered a stunning rebuke of the BBC's coverage following her heroic silver medal performance in the 800m at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest.
The 21-year-old powerhouse expressed her profound disappointment with what she deemed a 'disrespectful' line of questioning from the broadcaster immediately after the gruelling final. Hodgkinson revealed the interview focused heavily on her second-place finish rather than celebrating her phenomenal achievement.
'It's not the first time it's happened,' Hodgkinson stated emphatically. 'I just feel like it's a bit disrespectful and I'm not a big fan of it. I think it should be a rule that you don't talk to an athlete until they've had five minutes to themselves.'
The reigning European champion's criticism highlights the immense emotional and physical toll elite athletes endure moments after competition. Hodgkinson emphasised the need for recovery time before facing media scrutiny, suggesting the current approach shows little understanding of athletes' mental state post-race.
Despite securing Britain's first medal at the championships and matching her silver from last year's event in Oregon, Hodgkinson faced immediate questioning about not winning gold. Her powerful statements have sparked conversations about media ethics in sports broadcasting and the treatment of athletes during vulnerable moments.
Hodgkinson's performance itself was nothing short of extraordinary, clocking 1:56.34 in challenging conditions. Her continued dominance in the event positions her as one of Britain's brightest athletic prospects heading into future competitions.
