One of the world’s most celebrated runners, Great Britain’s Keely Hodgkinson has featured at most major international track and field championships since bursting onto the scene in 2021 winning women’s 800m silver at the Tokyo Olympics, aged 19.
Since then, she has become Olympic champion at Paris 2024, twice European champion (Munich 2022 and Roma 2024) and three times a world medallist (Oregon 2022 silver, Budapest 2023 silver, Tokyo 2025 bronze). She is one of the sport’s biggest stars, but here are 10 facts you might not know about her:
Deaf in one ear
When she was 13, Keely had a non-cancerous tumour near her ear, which was close to her spinal column. It was serious enough that there was concern she might develop facial palsy. The tumour was removed and has left her 95% deaf in one ear.
Creator of “Keely Klassic”
She is one of the few current athletes to have an eponymous event in her honour. Others include the Mondo Classic and the Neeraj Chopra Classic. The inaugutal Keely Klassic took place indoors in Birmingham in February 2025.
Over 15 body piercings
In a fan Q&A, Keely revealed she has had over 15 piercings on her body - though she doesn’t wear jewellery in all of them now.
Strong 400m speed helping her 800m
Though she specialises in 800m, Keely is also an international class 400m runner, she won bronze over one lap at the Espoo 2023 European Athletics U23 Championships.
Almost quit athletics aged 15
She came close to quitting the sport around age 15 to focus on swimming. Her father persuaded her to stay, promising her a new pair of “snazzy shoes” and it helped her to recommit to training.
Record breaker
She is the current holder of both the European U20 record (1:55.88, Tokyo 2021) and European U23 record over 800m (1:54.61, London 2024).
Talented training group
She trains with the M11 Track Club in Manchester, UK which also includes several other athletes with proven international success, including Olympic 1500m bronze, world 800m silver and European 1500m silver medallist Georgia Hunter Bell, Ireland’s European indoor 3000m champion Sarah Healy and 800m runner Ethan Hussey, winner of European U23 silver and world U20 bronze.
The group is led by Trevor Painter, who coached his wife, 800m runner Jenny Meadows to European indoor gold, world bronze, world indoor silver and European silver between 2009-2011. Meadows now acts as a mentor to Hodgkinson.
MBE at a young age
Following her Olympic gold in Paris 2024, she was presented with an MBE for her services to athletics by Prince William at Buckingham Palace in May 2025.
Inspired by Jessica Ennis-Hill
She was motivated to take part in athletics from watching Jessica Ennis-Hill win the women’s heptathlon at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
First title in 2018
Her first major title was at the Győr 2018 European Athletics U18 Championships where she won the women's 800m.
