Keely Hodgkinson will be prevented from wearing her new Nike catsuit when competing for Team GB. The 24-year-old unveiled the sleek outfit during her Athlos victory in London last week.
The Olympic 800m champion wore the striking speed suit after collaborating with Nike to refine its design, which featured an open back and a specially incorporated gap for her trademark ponytail. The suit promptly sparked debate as Hodgkinson clocked 1:56.40, two seconds outside her personal best, to take the Athlos title.
Style and Comfort Priorities
While the aerodynamic advantages could give the 800m star an edge in her battle with Audrey Werro, who recently claimed both the European and Ultimate Championship titles, Hodgkinson also admitted to making decisions based on appearance.
She said: "The style was a big thing. I wanted it to be comfortable but also to feel a little bit sexy. The back is open. It makes it cool. I am not hot at all in it. It's like I am wearing nothing."
Hodgkinson explained how the suit made training in sweltering conditions more manageable, which could bode well as she looks to defend her 800m crown at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. However, she will be unable to don her bespoke Nike design at the LA Games owing to Team GB's longstanding partnership with Adidas, reports the Mirror.
Team GB Kit Agreement Restrictions
The Sun reports that while GB athletes are permitted to wear items such as shoes and spikes from different clothing brands, the same would not apply to Hodgkinson's catsuit under the kit agreement. It would also prevent Hodgkinson from wearing the Nike design when representing Team GB at next year's World Athletics Championships.
A Team GB spokesperson said: "Supported by our partners and in tandem with our sports, we have always worked to provide athlete-centred and innovative kit that supports our teams to perform at their best at both the Summer and Winter Games. We're confident and excited about what's ahead and the developments we're working towards for future Games, including Los Angeles 2028."
A UK Athletics spokesperson stated: "The speed suit Keely Hodgkinson wore at Athlos was a bespoke Nike design created specifically for her.
"We are in regular dialogue with Nike regarding all aspects of performance apparel and will continue to assess any innovations that could benefit our athletes in future championship environments."
Future Options and Design Evolution
Despite Hodgkinson being unable to don her Nike suit at the next Olympics, Team GB colleague Georgia Hunter Bell acknowledged that comparable designs will be on offer.
The 1500m runner said: "That's going to be an option you can wear for the Olympics, when we get our kit drops for Team GB. It's exciting to showcase it now."
Hodgkinson's design appears to represent the next bold stride in athletics fashion, building on Cathy Freeman's iconic bodysuit at the 2000 Olympics and Faith Kipyegon's tailor-made suit for her sub-four-minute mile attempt last year.
"This has been a year in the making, with lots of adjustments and fittings. A really fun process with the Nike innovation team," Hodgkinson said of her striking new outfit.
"It's a mixture of fashion, speed and science, all coming together – maybe it's the future of athletics. It's an honour for them to choose me to put this out first.
"In hindsight, this is an all-women's event – it's all about the glitz and glamour, putting eyes on the women. It's a moment. The perfect way to end the season."
Addressing whether her ponytail could affect her performance, Hodgkinson commented: "The science was like, technically with the air drag you're slower with your hair out, but I was like, 'That's a non-negotiable. My hair is staying out'. I'm very much 'look good, feel good', mental and physical balance."
Nike's director of innovation apparel product design Hannah Amis explained: "The large opening at the back has been a favourite of Keely's since day one.
"The hood streamlines the hairline and manages the chaotic aerodynamics of hair in motion. Of course, Keely's ponytail is iconic to who she is as a person, so we engineered an exact, strategic opening to let her hair flow out the back flawlessly."
