Olympics 2024: Keely Hodgkinson targets breaking 41-year-old 800m world record after Paris gold
The women's 800m world record has stood since 1983 when Jarmila Kratochvilova clocked 1min 53.28sec at the World Championships; Keely Hodgkinson is the first British female competitor to win athletics Olympic gold since Jessica Ennis-Hill's heptathlon victory 12 years ago in London
Tuesday 6 August 2024 11:59, UK
Keely Hodgkinson has set her sights on breaking the long-standing women's 800m record following her gold medal at the Olympics.
The 22-year-old took gold in Paris on Monday evening in a time of 1min 56.72sec after silver medals at the Games in Tokyo three years ago, and the World finals in 2022 and 2023.
The world record for the women's 800m of 1:53.28 has stood since the 1983 World Championship when it was set by Czechoslovakia's Jarmila Kratochvilova, and Hodgkinson admits it is a mark she is aiming to beat.
- Paris Olympics LIVE! Latest news, updates and results
- What's on in Paris? Schedule and Team GB medal hopes
- Olympic medal table [external site] | Stream Sky Sports on NOW
"That would be incredible," Hodgkinson, whose personal best is currently a 1:54.61 set at the London Diamond League in June, told Sky Sports News.
"It's definitely an aim we've spoken about in the last couple of years, and can anyone get near to it?
Trending
- World Darts Championship LIVE! Rock in action with Clayton to come
- Double blow! Sterling out 'for a while' - so will Arsenal sign a winger?
- Saka out for 'many weeks' with hamstring injury
- Transfer Centre LIVE! Howe reluctant to sell Dubravka in January
- Liverpool latest: Van Dijk plays down quadruple talk
- Usyk vs Fury 2: Fury 'robbed'? What do the stats reveal?
- World Darts Championship schedule: Cross headlines Monday's action
- 'Cultural overhaul needed' | Neville slams 'mediocre' Man Utd
- Ref Watch: Pickford and Estupinan lucky to avoid unwanted Christmas cards?
- EFL latest: US group complete Sheff Utd takeover
"What we have going on in track and field now with how we're training, the science we have now with the tracks and shoes, I welcome it and I think it's such a great thing.
"If I can get close to it, why not give it a go? It would be an incredible achievement."
Hodgkinson's victory at the Stade de France saw her become the first British female competitor to win a gold in athletics since Jessica Ennis-Hill's heptathlon triumph in 2012.
It was Ennis-Hill who proved a childhood inspiration for Hodgkinson as well, and she was delighted to bring it full circle with her 800m triumph.
"It does mean everything to me," Hodgkinson said. "I have so many people behind me; it is an individual sport, but there is such a team behind it.
"I owe a lot of people, and this is our moment to celebrate. I'm just super-happy it came together.
"I'm looking forward to seeing what comes of that and I guess I've cemented myself in a bit of history, so that's good."
How to follow the Olympics on Sky
Keep up to date with the action from the Paris 2024 Olympics across Sky Sports digital platforms and Sky Sports News every day between now and Sunday August 11.
Alongside live news blogs and updates as records are broken and medals won on skysports.com and the Sky Sports app, Sky Sports News will also have dedicated reporters on the scene in Paris during the Games to gather the latest news both inside and outside the arenas in France as well as reaction to the big moments from medal winners, coaches, relatives and pundits.
Launching this August, Sky Sports+ will be integrated into Sky TV, streaming service NOW and the Sky Sports app - giving Sky Sports customers access to over 50 per cent more live sport this year at no extra cost. Stream The new EFL season, Test cricket and more top sport with NOW.
