by Stuart Weir
Keely Hodgkinson takes 2021 Euro Indoors, photo by European Athletics
Keely Hodgkinson, James Bond, 007 Movie premier
Keely Hodgkinson, 2021 Diamond league winner, photo by Diamond League AG
It was about 5 am Wisconsin local time, last March, while I was watching the European Indoors from my office /library, that I figured out just how amazing Keely Hodgkinson was, and could be. It was during the semi finals of the Euro Indoor 800m, that the nineteen year old showed the savvy of a racing veteran. I remember scribbling, ” Keely could medal”.
In the Euro indoor final, Keely Hodgkinson totally outraced some of the toughest indoor runners in Europe, and won the European Indoor. This season has been a wonder for Ms. Hodgkinson. Stuart Weir has been quite pleased with her, and this is his column on her most excellent adventure in 2021.
A year in the life of Keely Hodgkinson
When 2021 started, Keely Hodkinson had no idea that it would end with an invitation to the premiere of the new Bond movie, No time to die, in London!
I confess that at the start of 2021 Keely was not on my radar. Then on 30 January, aged 18, she ran 1:59.03 in Austria, an age-group record. She was selected for the European Indoors, won her prelim, won her semi and then won the final. The times were 2:03s but that did not matter. She had already shown that she could run sub-2 and now she showed that she could race.
Keely Hodgkinson, 2021 European Indoor Champion, 800m, photo by European Athletics
She said of her European indoor gold: “I’m so happy. You never quite understand the shock when it happens. You picture it in your head so many times, but when the reality comes through, it’s just a different feeling. I didn’t really think about the pressure. I am only 19 and I’m still learning and there’s still things that I’m going to learn. I just wanted to keep my same relaxed state like I did in the heats and the semi-final. Me and Trevor [coach Trevor Painter] talked about that and we said not to change anything for the final. I just didn’t want to make any mistakes and I really believed in myself”.
Of her coach, Trevor Painter and his wife, Jenny Meadows she said: “They are amazing. I think I couldn’t be in a better position. Jenny has been there and done it all, been to all the championships. And Trevor’s advice and experience as well. I just feel I have the best team around me. Sometimes I feel I see them more than my own family!”
“I tell Keely if you work hard you will get the rewards. That’s such a nice mindset to have. It didn’t feel like a genuine sport when I competed”
A tale of two generations. @JennyMeadows800 @keelyhodgkinson https://t.co/Y6j3xmlPhX
— Alex Spink (@alexspinkmirror) September 16, 2021
There was then some discussion as to whether she should aim at the World Juniors or the Olympics. When GB decided it was not safe to send a team to Nairobi, the issue was settled. She entered the GB Olympic selection trials in possibly the hottest event. The pace was slow, 61.77 seconds for the first lap. Jemma Reekie was in front but everyone was in touch. With just over 200 m to go, Laura Muir made a move and took the lead and started a long run for home. Reekie and Hodgkinson were not far behind. On the home straight Reekie came alongside Muir and edged in front. But then, timing her run to perfection Hodgkinson stormed past both of them. She had just run a 57 second lap to win in 1:59.61. She was in her way to Tokyo!
In Tokyo in the Olympic final, she made another well-timed late run to come from about fifth to take the silver medal: “Her time of 1:55.88 was a national record, breaking Kelly Holmes’ 1995 British record. She said: “I think it is just one of those things where you know something like that is possible but whether it comes out you just don’t know, it was such a good race. I wanted to put it all out there and I did that, it is going to take a couple of days to sink in”.
With gold-medallist, Athing Mu, also a teenager, Hodkinson quipped: “There’s not just one 19-year-old in the race, there’s two, which is unbelievable! But hopefully it sets up a good, competitive 10-15 years ahead, and even faster times on the horizon”.
Tokyo you were cool!!Thankyou for all the messages of love&support, it has been amazing &overwhelming to see & I couldn’t be more grateful for the incredible team I have around meâ¤ï¸ special shout-out to the man behind the magic, wouldn’t be where I am without you & the squad 🌪 pic.twitter.com/5NKzNrrS8R
— KnH (@keelyhodgkinson) August 6, 2021
I was part of a GB press group who spoke to her in Tokyo, the day after the Olympic final. She came across as a self-confident Olympic medalist meets girl next door. She seemed very grounded, referring to a message from her dad: “keep your distance from fear, isolate yourself from doubt”,
On the Olympic final, she said: “I was in that race to try to win it. It was a crazy race with everyone running under 1:58.5. It’s going to be an exciting next 10 years! Olympic finals are always quite quick, with everyone going for it. But no one was looking at the time, we were all just racing. It was just how it came out. Yesterday was a much-anticipated race with a lot of people watching it. Being on the podium was amazing. Athing is an amazing athlete and hopefully we can have some great battles in the future. I think it will really raise the bar in the women’s 800. I thought Athing would take it out because that’s what she’s been doing. For myself, there are a few places I could have been in a better position but I was waiting for the home straight to make a move”.
Seb Coe had called her a “generational talent” but she dismissed that: “I think it’s important to get the job done before you open yourself up to what’s going on. I want to enjoy the moment. That’s why I was awake late last night enjoying the moment but you can’t do that indefinitely. I think part of it is that as an athlete you always looking to the next race, to keep up your motivation. But I haven’t really been taking it all in I’ve just been going with the flow because there’s a lot going on.
Her season did not end at Tokyo but in the Diamond League final in Zurich where she won in 1:57.98. She said of that race: “Natoya Goule is a strong front runner and I was determined not to give her any meters on me. It was a good race to finish the season so I am very happy really. It’s been a long year and I think that Vienna race [1:59.03 in January] set the tone for the year. It was such a hassle getting there but it was so worth it. Then the European Indoors moving into the outdoors and on to Tokyo where I came away with a silver medal. If you had told me that last year, there’s no way I would have believed you because I was just hoping to make the team.”
It certainly has been quite a year!
“And the award goes to…” @keelyhodgkinson and @lauramuiruns have been shortlisted for the @EuroAthletics‘ Golden Track Awards 👇
— British Athletics (@BritAthletics) October 1, 2021
