Keely Hodgkinson, Olympic Champion. It sounds good, doesn’t it?
It’s not the childhood dream. Not the ambition that has fuelled the years of coaching, of sacrifice, of dedication. After a race for the ages final night time, it’s actuality. The dream realised within the best of how.
You may be forgiven for pondering it may be straightforward. The headlines have been at all times going to be Athing – Keely. What occurs while you take the “largest” rival out of the equation? For a lot of it was a foregone conclusion, but it surely was by no means going to be straightforward. Nothing on this sport ever is. The World Champion, the World Indoor Champion, two notoriously tough rivals.
Photograph: Sam Mellish / Workforce GB
But, straightforward is simply how Keely made it look. A quick opening 200m from Tsigie Duguma, however there was no panic. Keely took the lead and took management of the tempo. 58.30 at midway, slower than the semi-finals. The pack got here, they tried to overtake. However this time, they couldn’t. Very like the night prior, it was the ultimate residence straight that cemented the result. A killer flip of tempo that would not be matched, Keely’s final 200m an excellent 28.3 seconds.
Olympic Champion. 1:56.72.
A punch of the fist, after which the tears got here. A launch of every part constructed up since Tokyo three years prior. The times of silver have been gone. Tokyo, Eugene, Birmingham, Budapest.
Photograph: Sam Mellish / Workforce GB
Lastly, I’ve Accomplished It
Household, associates, flags. A crown on her head. A hug from long-time benefactor Barrie Wells. An electrical crowd, a full stadium. An ideal night, an evening to recollect.
“That was completely unbelievable. I’ve labored so onerous over the past yr and you could possibly see how a lot it meant to me as I crossed the road. I can’t consider I’ve lastly performed it. It means a lot to me. And to do it right here, the place higher?. The viewers was completely unbelievable, it felt like a house crowd to me. So I’m tremendous completely happy.
I’m now the Olympic champion for the subsequent 4 years and no one can take that away from me.
I’ve seen all of the help from residence, I’ve seen individuals messaging me and I haven’t bought again to everybody but however I’ll do and I’ve seen all of it. It couldn’t really feel extra wonderful to which have help. I’m tremendous completely happy to carry it residence for everybody. It’s not simply me, it’s an entire staff effort they usually know who they’re. That is our gold medal”.
Photograph: Sam Mellish / Workforce GB
Twenty years in the past, it was Kelly. Yesterday, it was Keely. A legacy continued on an evening to recollect within the Stade de France.
