Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson pulled out of the women's 400m final at the UK Athletics Championships in tears just seconds before the race, sparking immediate concern. The 23-year-old emerged for the start in Birmingham on Sunday, performed pre-race strides, then stopped, grimaced, and walked to the side of the track. After crouching down and crying, she was led away as the race proceeded without her.
In a statement, Hodgkinson said: “I wasn’t feeling 100% standing on the start line, so I made the tough decision to step away and not race. I didn’t want to risk anything ahead of this summer.” On Instagram, she added: “Leaving champs healthy!! Sometimes the hard decision is saying no, body wasn’t feeling 100%, exciting summer ahead.” Her coaches insisted the withdrawal was precautionary due to muscle tightness at the end of her warm-up, ahead of a planned attempt at the 800m world record later this summer.
Hodgkinson has a recent history of injury, missing much of the 2025 season with a torn hamstring and returning only to win bronze at the world championships. Her training partner Georgia Hunter Bell, who won the 800m title in a championship record 1:55.93, said: “I’ve only just found out. I’m not sure what’s up because she was warming up really well. We were warming up together and she was looking amazing. She knows she’s in really good shape.”
Hodgkinson had hoped to sharpen her speed in Birmingham ahead of a tilt at Jarmila Kratochvilova's 43-year-old 800m world record of 1:53.28. She lowered her own national record to 1:54.33 this month, though losing to Audrey Werro in Stockholm. She is next due to race over 800m at the Eugene Diamond League on 4 July, before a potential world record attempt at the London Diamond League on 18 July.
In other events, Matt Hudson-Smith regained the men's 400m title in 44.45, dedicating his win to his daughter after a difficult birth last year. Success Eduan shocked world silver medallist Amy Hunt to win the women's 200m in a personal best 22.43, while Zharnel Hughes took men's 200m gold in 20.04. Jake Wightman won the men's 800m.
