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Keely Hodgkinson ‘closer than ever’ to breaking athletics’ longest standing world record

Keely Hodgkinson ‘closer than ever’ to breaking athletics’ longest standing world record

Hodgkinson’s stunning indoor run in France saw her cross the line in 1:54.87 to smash a world record which had stood since 3 March 2002 – the day the Briton was born.

Her coach, Jenny Meadows, told BBC Sport the athlete’s time in Lievin could have been up to one second faster – and Hodgkinson is aiming higher still.

“I’ve known for weeks I’m capable of breaking it. It’s just a matter of getting out on the day,” she said.

“We can push it even further in the future, as long as I stay healthy and I think this is hopefully just the beginning.”

Victory came after a difficult year for the 23-year-old, who stormed to Olympic gold at the Paris Games in 2024.

Hodgkinson was left unable to train after tearing her hamstring just a few months after that triumph and has been building her way back ever since.

“After winning the Olympics, it really wasn’t what I thought was going to happen,” she said.

“It makes you stop and strip back everything and think, why is this happening? What are the problems?

“But, we got through it, I became a stronger person, and I think this is now the reward of all of that happening.”

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