July 25th 2024.
Keely Hodgkinson is a name that has been making waves in the world of athletics recently, and for good reason. At just 22 years old, this middle-distance runner from Manchester has already achieved incredible success, including winning silver at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the 800m final. And now, with the Paris games on the horizon, she has a great chance of taking home the gold.
As part of our series of interviews with the athletes heading to Paris, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Keely to chat about her journey and her sport. She shared with us her earliest Olympic memory, which was watching Jessica Ennis-Hill take home the gold at the 2012 London games. At the young age of 10, Keely was inspired by Jessica's win and decided to return to athletics after taking a break from her club. She even credits Jessica as the reason for her success in the sport.
Keely burst onto the Olympic scene at the age of 19, breaking the British record in the 800m with a time of 1:55.88. Since then, she has continued to shine, securing numerous medals in competitions such as the World Championships and the European Athletics Championships. And with her Tokyo Olympics rival Athing Mu failing to qualify for this year's games, Keely's chances of winning gold in Paris are looking even better.
One of the things Keely loves most about running is the thrill of the chase. She explained that in athletics, you never know what can happen on the day of an event, and that's what makes it so exciting. Of course, there are highs and lows, but she has learned to stay level-headed and focused in this demanding sport.
When asked about the hardest thing about her sport, Keely didn't hesitate to say it was the training. She trains six days a week for up to nine hours, with only one day off. Sometimes, she even has to train twice a day to fit in gym work. But she has learned to push her body to its limits and has become a master at understanding what it can do.
For those interested in getting into athletics, Keely recommends trying out different sports and finding an athletic club to join. She believes that anyone can become a professional athlete, regardless of their age or background. In fact, she knows people who started at the age of 20 and are now at the top of their game.
Reflecting on her journey to becoming an Olympian, Keely revealed that she didn't know she would make it until the day she won her silver medal at the Tokyo games. And since then, she has continued to excel in her career, despite facing some obstacles along the way. Ten years ago, she had to undergo surgery to remove a tumour near her brain, which has left her half deaf. But she didn't let that stop her from pursuing her dreams.
Looking ahead to the Paris games, Keely is filled with excitement and confidence. She can't wait to compete in front of her family, who will be there to cheer her on. And with her previous wins under her belt, she is determined to bring home a medal for Team GB. To learn more about Keely and her journey, visit https://www.teamgb.com/.
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