Once an underdog at the Olympics three years before, Keely Hodgkinson is now one among the favorites to win the gold medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The athlete declared: “It’s quite a privileged position to be in… It’s exciting but a little bit daunting, and a very different position to what I was in last time.”
In her first major outdoor event, she broke Kelly Holmes’ 26-year British record to win the 800m silver. This is where her career took a turn.
Three incredible years have passed for the current European champion. When she earned her second consecutive world silver in Budapest, she expressed her regret, which is a clear indication that she is aiming for a higher achievement in the Olympics.
Hodgkinson – no pressure
“I’m still young but there was no pressure then, whereas now I feel like I have a little bit to live up to…Being chased rather than being the one chasing is a harder position to be in but I enjoy the pressure, to be honest,” she admitted.
Hodgkinson will once more face competitors Athing Mu and Mary Moraa in the upcoming summer Games as they hunt for a gold medal.
In the Prefontaine Classic, which also serves as the Eugene Diamond League, Hodgkinson hopes to make a significant impression before the 2024 Olympics when the “big three” of the women’s 800m meet head-to-head.
“Unfortunately, I’ve been second every time. But we’re going to try and change that…I think it’s a good rivalry. It’s quite exciting for us all because we’re all so young, we’re all really talented, we work hard and we all really want it,” the athlete said.
She added: “We don’t race each other that often so, when we do, it’s a big occasion.”
Source: BBC
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