Keely Hodgkinson was left disappointed after missing out on the Diamond League title in Stockholm, but the Olympic 800m champion was soon back on the track. The 24-year-old Team GB star shared a photo on Instagram showing her being embraced by a colleague after a gruelling session, with the caption: "After session hugs because that s*** hurt so much."
Narrow Defeat in Stockholm
Hodgkinson had been widely fancied for success in the Swedish capital last Sunday, and she delivered a new British national record of one minute, 54.33 seconds in the fifth leg of the Diamond League. However, it was only enough for silver, as Switzerland's Audrey Werro beat her to the line by 0.35 seconds. Werro's winning time was also the third-fastest women's 800m ever recorded and the quickest since 1980.
Reaction to the Result
Despite the disappointment, Hodgkinson has vowed to use the result as motivation. "Honestly, I'm not that disappointed," she said after the race. "I've mentioned the world record and to get down to the times that we're talking about, you can't do it by yourself. So I think this will actually be a pivotal moment..." She added: "I really work well with a little bit of anger and motivation so I can't complain too much. The world record is still my goal in London next month, I still believe I can do it."
Upcoming Challenges
Hodgkinson will now turn her attention to the 400m at the UK Championships in Birmingham, starting June 20 at the Alexander Stadium. She will then return to the 800m at the Diamond League meet in July. The Olympic champion already holds the world record in the women's indoor 600m and is determined to cement her dominance across middle-distance events.
