Keely Hodgkinson shatters world indoor 800m record
The British Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson set a new world record in the indoor 800m in Liévin, France, clocking an extraordinary time of 1:54.88 on 17 October 2025, surpassing the previous record by nearly a second, reports BritPanorama.
Slovenia’s Jolanda Ceplak had maintained the record at 1:55.82 since 3 March 2002, coincidentally the exact date of Hodgkinson’s birth. “It almost felt a bit weird that it was set on the day I was born, and 24 years later I break it,” the 23-year-old commented. “But I think there’s still more to push.”
The Briton had indicated her determination to attack the long-standing record following a promising preparation run at the British Championships the previous week. She demonstrated her intent by reaching the halfway point in 55.56 seconds and subsequently recording 1:25.06 at 600m before sprinting to the finish.
This record-breaking performance came against a competitive field, including Ethiopia’s Olympic silver medallist Tsige Duguma and Switzerland’s reigning European Under-23 champion Audrey Werro. After her impressive run, Hodgkinson expressed her joy, stating, “Thank God! That was really fun. I’ve been looking forward to this for a good few weeks.”
Hodgkinson’s journey to this remarkable achievement hadn’t been straightforward; she faced a challenging 2025 campaign marked by injury setbacks. Initially aiming to break the record at her own event, the Keely Klassic in Birmingham, she encountered hamstring issues that thwarted her plans. Despite these challenges, she managed to claim bronze at the world championships in Tokyo in September, albeit while not fully fit.
Now with an impressive medal collection that includes Olympic gold and silver, as well as silver and bronze from prior world championships, Hodgkinson’s sights are now set on the world indoor championships in Torun, Poland, next month. This event represents one of the few major titles still missing from her expanding legacy.
The indoor 800m record, currently classified as the short-track record by World Athletics, solidifies Hodgkinson’s status as an elite athlete and a competitor to be reckoned with in the sport.
As she transitions to the upcoming challenges, one can’t help but ponder how records, like the athletes who chase them, are meant to be rewritten. The sanctity of milestones shifts, revealing new heights yet to be reached.
