Keely Hodgkinson has revealed the social media comments that annoy her most, hitting back at fans who question her commitment to athletics.
The golden girl of British middle-distance running has experienced another action-packed and successful year on the track. Indoors, she shattered the world 800m record before claiming gold at the World Championships in Poland.
Outdoors, she secured silver in the 800m at the European Championships in Birmingham and triumphed at the London Diamond League meeting. She finished second at the new Ultimate Championships in Budapest before storming to victory at the all-female Athlos meeting, sporting her new Nike catsuit.
Passion for fashion
Off the track, the 24-year-old enjoys spending time with friends and pursuing her other main passion - fashion. Hodgkinson shares her activities on Instagram, where she boasts more than 700,000 followers.
While her posts are warmly received by most of her fans, some unfairly challenge her commitment to her sport. Speaking about her social media presence, she told Sky Sports: "It's purely for fun, I don't think too deeply about it. Athletes have a lot of time to kill, I can't run around all day!"
Addressing people who question her work ethic, she said: "I get a lot of comments about that, which really irritates me. I'm like, 'If only you'd known what I'd done today [in training]!'"
Life as a professional athlete
"The perception of an athlete [constant training], that is not sustainable. Me and my friends love to mess about.
"When I'm on a training camp, there's still a lot of time to kill. I started my YouTube channel a year ago to bring people on the journey about what it's really like to be a professional athlete."
Following a lengthy season, Hodgkinson will balance rest with training over the winter months ahead of a big 2027, which will include the World Championships in Beijing.
Nike catsuit debate
She is also expected to consult with Nike after her bold new speedsuit made its debut at the Athlos meeting. The all-black outfit triggered widespread discussion, with some debating whether it complied with the rules.
Nothing has come to light to suggest it breaches regulations, with Hodgkinson hinting she might wear something similar at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Speaking about the ensemble, Hodgkinson said it made her feel "sexy" and as if she were wearing nothing at all.
She said: "I wanted to be comfortable but I wanted to feel a little bit sexy. The back's open and that makes it feel really cool. It feels like I'm wearing nothing, to be honest."
