Olympic icon Keely Hodgkinson has named two rules that should be changed after the runner shared her experience ahead of a Diamond League event. The Team GB star has called for earlier start times and fewer competitors in 800m races after documenting problems she faces at athletics events.
Hodgkinson's Record-Breaking Year
The 800m Olympic gold medalist has enjoyed a remarkable year so far. Hodgkinson set a new indoor world record in February and claimed the 800m title at the World Indoor Championships the following month. The 24-year-old recently continued her fine form as the outdoor season got underway. She recorded a new 400m personal best at the Diamond League event in Rome earlier this month. A few days later, Hodgkinson set a new national 800m record in Stockholm.
The Call for Change
However, the Olympic champion has called for two rule changes after documenting issues affecting her preparation and performance on the track. Sharing her Diamond League experiences on her YouTube channel, Hodgkinson said ahead of the Rome event: "We need to put a limit on, no races past 9.30pm. 10pm latest. The men's hundreds are at 11pm. What the hell? And no more than 10 people in an 800m [race], thank you. Really important, that."
She added: "People are falling over left, right and centre. And then some people are running way further than 800m because they're having to run in lane three. You can't even say, 'It gets you ready for the championship.' No, because there's never going to be 13 people in a championship race. Thank you. That is my two piece on that for today."
Late Starts and Performance
Hodgkinson aired her thoughts ahead of the late start for her 400m race in Rome. Despite not being a fan of the timing, she overcame that obstacle to run 51.14 seconds, a new personal best, at the Stadio Olimpico. "We've got a long day ahead of us," Hodgkinson said in her YouTube video before the event. "I'm not racing until 10.15pm, that's crazy. I don't mind a late race but that's ridiculous, because you just don't sleep. I'm not sleeping until 3am at least because of the caffeine, the adrenaline. It's mad and then I've got to race again on Sunday."
Stockholm Success and Reflection
After finishing seventh in Rome, Hodgkinson set a new 800m British record of one minute and 54.33 seconds in Stockholm. However, it was only enough for a runner-up spot, as she finished 0.35 seconds behind Switzerland's Audrey Werro. "Honestly, I'm not that disappointed," Hodgkinson said after the race. "I've mentioned the world record (one minute and 53.28 seconds) 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."
Looking Ahead
Hodgkinson is back on home soil as she prepares for the UK Championships, which begin on Saturday. The Olympic hero will be competing in the 400m event at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham.
