British middle-distance sensation Keely Hodgkinson has revealed a surprising off-track passion that's helping her stay balanced ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics - baking!
From Gold Medals to Golden Brownies
The 21-year-old silver medalist, who took the athletics world by storm at the Tokyo Olympics, has been sharing her culinary creations on social media during breaks from her intense training schedule. "It's my way of switching off," Hodgkinson explained. "There's something therapeutic about measuring ingredients and watching something transform in the oven."
Sweet Success on and Off the Track
While her signature event remains the 800m, where she's currently ranked among the world's best, Hodgkinson's baking skills are showing similar promise. Her recent posts feature everything from perfectly risen Victoria sponges to decadent chocolate brownies that would impress any patisserie chef.
The Warrington-born athlete credits baking with helping her maintain mental freshness during the gruelling preparation for what could be her second Olympic appearance. "Training for Paris is intense," she admitted, "but everyone needs their downtime. For me, that's experimenting in the kitchen."
Tokyo Reflections and Paris Preparations
As she looks ahead to the 2024 Games, Hodgkinson occasionally reflects on her breakthrough performance in Tokyo where, as a teenager, she claimed silver behind American legend Athing Mu. "That experience changed everything for me," she recalled. "Now I know what to expect, and I'm hungrier than ever."
Her coach, former Olympic hurdler Jenny Meadows, fully supports the baking breaks. "Keely's dedication is unquestionable," Meadows said. "If whisking eggs helps her unwind while maintaining that competitive edge, we're all for it."
With the Paris Olympics now less than a year away, British athletics fans will be hoping Hodgkinson's golden touch extends from the kitchen to the track as she aims to upgrade her silver medal to gold.
