Launching your individual monitor meet and naming it after your self is one factor–however Nice Britain’s 800m Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson didn’t cease there. On Wednesday, British Athletics revealed that the inaugural Keely Klassic monitor meet, set for Feb. 15 in Birmingham, will conclude with Hodgkinson attempting to interrupt the 800m world report, which has stood for 41 years.
The report of 1:53.28, set by Czechoslovak athlete Jarmila Kratochvílová in 1983, is the longest-standing world report in athletics. Hodgkinson would wish to run greater than a second sooner than her private greatest (1:54.61) to even come near taking it down. The run will mark Hodgkinson’s season opener and first race again from an harm that reduce her 2024 season quick.
On the Keely Klassic, Hodgkinson guarantees “a novel, immersive expertise that may mix elite competitors with an electrifying ambiance” and extends the assembly invitation to Nice Britain’s world-class monitor and subject athletes.
Unbelievable scenes for @keelyhodgkinson! 🤩
The second she’s named BBC Sports activities Character of the Yr winner 2024 🏆✨#SPOTY pic.twitter.com/cwE33xO0z5
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) December 17, 2024
The revealing comes lower than a day after Tuesday’s BBC Sports activities Character of the Yr (SPOTY) ceremony, the place Hodgkinson took centre stage. The 22-year-old is the primary monitor athlete to win since Mo Farah gained in 2017, and the primary feminine monitor athlete to win since 2004. Her win additionally marks the fourth consecutive 12 months {that a} lady has gained the award–the longest streak in historical past.
“I’m truly in a little bit of shock,” Hodgkinson mentioned upon accepting the trophy. “I’m truly extra excited for my coach, to be trustworthy, as a result of I wouldn’t be the place I’m with out his steerage, [which] I’ve had since I used to be 17.”
“This 12 months has been completely unimaginable for me,” she continued. “I achieved all the things I got down to do on the outside monitor, which is type of uncommon, so I’m grateful to be on this place.”
Olympic triathlon champion Alex Yee was additionally a contender for the award.
Hodgkinson’s coaches, Trevor Painter and Jenny Meadows, had been awarded Coach(es) of the Yr. Together with the Olympic 800m champion, the pair coaches Olympic 1,500m bronze medallist Georgia Bell.
Mondo Duplantis wins Sport Star of the Yr
Pole vaulting legend Mondo Duplantis was additionally acknowledged on the occasion, successful World Sport Star of the Yr. The Swedish-American world report holder was pitted towards fellow sports activities icons, together with gymnast Simone Biles, WNBA participant Caitlin Clark and Olympic marathon champion Sifan Hassan.
“So sorry that I can’t be in attendance tonight–I’m again right here within the States proper now, coaching for the up and coming season. I do know I’m in nice firm–the most important legends of all time in sports activities have gained this award. This actually means loads to me.”
