Keely Hodgkinson reveals hamstring abnormality
Keely Hodgkinson has revealed doctors discovered an unusual “split” hamstring after an MRI scan exposed a rare abnormality, reports BritPanorama. The Olympic 800 metres champion has two tendons in the affected hamstring rather than the usual one.
Hodgkinson, 24, believes the difference may allow her to continue running when one tendon is damaged. However, doctors are examining whether it also leaves her more vulnerable to breakdowns. “My body is quite literally built differently,” Hodgkinson said.
“Where most people have one tendon, mine is split – I have two – and we’re trying to figure out if it’s a strength or a weakness.” She noted that when one of the tendons tore, she still had the other intact. “In Birmingham, it didn’t affect me during the race, but I could feel something wasn’t quite right.”
The British athletics star revealed the problem after finishing behind Switzerland’s Audrey Werro in the 800m final at September’s World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest. This setback continued a difficult run for Hodgkinson since her Olympic triumph at Paris 2024.
A hamstring injury suffered in February 2025 kept her out of competition for more than a year. She eventually made an impressive comeback with consecutive Diamond League victories in August. Hodgkinson then broke the indoor 800m world record in February 2026 before claiming World Indoor Championships gold the following month.
Her outdoor campaign proved considerably tougher, however, as Werro defeated her three times and took away her European crown. Hodgkinson’s preparations were also disrupted by a freak fall while jogging beside a canal during a warm-down, resulting in cuts to both knees and a whiplash-like injury to her back.
Despite the challenges, Hodgkinson remains steadfast. While she suspects the accident contributed to her hamstring issues, she is not searching for excuses. “Part of me wants to talk about it and then part of me doesn’t, because I feel like my words get twisted or people are like ‘oh, she’s making excuses,'” she noted. “Overall, I’m finishing second in the world and I can’t really be too hard on myself for that.”
Hodgkinson will complete her season at the women-only Athlos meeting in London on Friday, where hopes will be high to end the year on a positive note.
In a sport where athletes often battle against not only their competitors but also their own bodies, Hodgkinson’s journey underscores the complexity of resilience; even champions find themselves navigating uncharted territory.
