Keely Hodgkinson, a prominent contender for Team GB, has become the Olympic champion in the women’s 800m. At 22, she entered the games with this year’s world-leading time and secured Britain’s first athletics Olympic gold in eight years. Hodgkinson finished the race in 1:56.72, followed by Ethiopia’s Tsige Duguma at 1:57.15 and Kenya’s Mary Moraa at 1:57.42. She maintained her composure and lead from the start, confidently finishing the final stretch.
Post-victory, she celebrated with a union flag, embraced Britain’s World Athletics boss Sebastian Coe, and greeted fans during a lap of honour. Speaking trackside, Hodgkinson expressed her joy, stating, “I’m super happy… I’m now the Olympic champion for the next four years and no one can take that away from me.” She aimed for the top spot after finishing second in Tokyo three years ago and recently set a new national record.
GOLD GOLD GOLD!!
Keely Hodgkinson, you superstar! ⭐#Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/yFYKJ1AhSH
— Team GB (@TeamGB) August 5, 2024
Hodgkinson’s achievement comes two decades after Dame Kelly Holmes won gold in the same event in Athens. The evening also saw the women’s cycling sprint team break the world record three times en route to gold in the velodrome. Earlier in the day, Joe Clarke and Kimberley Woods secured silver and bronze in the kayak cross, while Team GB earned bronze in the mixed triathlon relay.
However, pole vaulter Molly Caudery, the world indoor champion, did not advance to the final. Team GB has now climbed to fifth in the medals table with 12 golds, 13 silvers, and 17 bronzes.
On Monday, US gymnastics star Simone Biles added to her medal tally, earning silver in the floor final after stepping out of bounds twice and placing fifth in the beam due to an unusual fall.