Keely Hodgkinson Slams West Ham Over London Stadium World Athletics Row
British Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson has launched a fresh critique of West Ham United, accusing the Premier League club of jeopardising her dream of competing in a major championship on home soil. Plans are underway to host the 2029 World Athletics Championship at the London Stadium, but West Ham, who hold a long-term lease at the venue, have reportedly refused to relocate for the proposed September dates.
Stadium Dispute Escalates
The club has previously stated that an agreement grants them priority use of the former Olympic stadium during the football season. Hodgkinson, a 24-year-old Manchester United fan who won Olympic 800m gold in Paris in 2024, provoked a fierce response from some West Ham supporters earlier this week with a tongue-in-cheek post on social media platform X.
She wrote: "The GB team will bring back more medals to that stadium than West Ham have seen in their entire history."
Hodgkinson has since doubled down on her criticism, insisting she enjoyed the reaction to her medals comment. She posted: "Thoroughly enjoyed the rattled comments under this, but in all seriousness, to have a global championships back in London would be incredible for our sport. I didn't think we'd get the opportunity again during my career, the British crowd would fill it everyday."
Tenancy vs Ownership
In a further dig, she pointed out that West Ham are tenants, not owners, of the stadium, which they moved into in 2016 after leaving Upton Park. Hodgkinson added: "Seems silly for London to be taken out of the running, over a football team not compromising on a stadium they pay RENT for when it's only a few extra away games, everything's always all about money and never moments. Let us have this moment!!! Pretty please."
Hodgkinson, who had to settle for bronze at last year's World Championship in Tokyo after battling back from injury, recently clinched gold by storming to victory in the 800m at the World Indoor Championships in Poland. She clocked a championship record time of one minute, 55.3 seconds, the second-fastest indoor performance in history behind the world record she set in Lievin, France in February.
Record-Breaking Form
Hodgkinson is in the form of her life after rebounding from an injury-riddled 2025. She is overflowing with confidence that another world record is a question of when, not if. The women's outdoor 800m record of 1:53.28, set more than 40 years ago by Jarmila Kratochvilova, is the oldest in track and field.
Hodgkinson said: "To have that confidence back in me, I've not missed anything. I was like, 'If you're beating me, you're going to run damn fast to do it'. I wanted to go out there and put on a bit of a show. I felt like I had the strength. Three rounds in three days is tough, but I did it!"
The dispute highlights ongoing tensions between sporting priorities at multi-use venues, with Hodgkinson's passionate advocacy underscoring the significance of hosting global athletics events in the UK.
