KEELY HODGKINSON PULLS OUT OF WORLD RECORD ATTEMPT AT HER OWN ATHLETICS EVENT - AND MAKES HEARTBREAKING ADMISSION AFTER INJURY
- Keely Hodgkinson was due to try to break the indoor 800metres world record
- She had scheduled the Keely Classic in Birmingham for the record attempt
- She says she is 'gutted' that fans who bought tickets won't see her in action
Keely Hodgkinson has pulled out of her world record attempt at the event named in her honour with a hamstring injury.
The British star was bidding to break the world indoor 800 metres record – which was set on the day she was born in 2002 – at the inaugural Keely Klassic in Birmingham on Saturday, her first race since winning Olympic gold in Paris last August.
However, Hodgkinson suffered a hamstring problem in training on Wednesday and is out of the event at the Utilita Arena, which was set to be broadcast on BBC iPlayer after the Beeb rejected the chance to show it on one of their main channels.
The 22-year-old is also now likely to miss the defence of her European indoor title in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands next month and is a doubt for the World Indoors in Nanjing, China.
‘I won’t lie, when I got the news this afternoon, I shed a tear,’ said Hodgkinson. ‘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, especially after so many have bought tickets to see me try and break the world record.
‘But this event was never just about me - it was always about showcasing British talent, creating something new for the sport, and bringing more energy and entertainment to athletics. That’s something I’m committed to for the long term.
‘I’ll be in Birmingham on Saturday doing everything I can to make sure it’s an amazing night for the athletes and the fans.
‘I want to help create a real festival atmosphere, engage with as many young people as possible, and hopefully inspire the next generation to fall in love with track and field.
‘I can’t wait to see some incredible performances, and I’ll be cheering on every athlete who steps on the track.’
Read more 2025-02-13T17:07:10Z
