Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson made a stylish appearance at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham on Saturday as she hosted the inaugural Keely Klassic event. The 22-year-old sportswoman wore a black cropped jacket and floral hoody, paired with loose-fitting jeans and high-waisted Nike Pro shorts, despite having to withdraw from her attempt to break the women's 800m world indoor record due to injury.
Hodgkinson had been scheduled to race for the record at 4.21pm but was forced to pull out, leaving her 'gutted'. 'I won't lie - when I got the news this afternoon I shed a tear,' she said. 'I've worked so hard for this moment and was in the best shape of my life. I'm absolutely gutted that I won't be able to race for the fans.'
The Keely Klassic, part of Hodgkinson's efforts to revolutionise athletics, features around nine races with top British stars, live music and celebrity appearances. 'We are hoping to just bring something fun to track,' she said. 'We want to create a legacy within ourselves and try to bring more eyes to track and field, especially my generation.'
Despite the setback, Hodgkinson appeared in good spirits as she hosted the event, which aims to attract a younger audience to the sport. The women's 800m indoor record, currently held by Jolanda Ceplak, was set on the day Hodgkinson was born in 2002.
