Keely Hodgkinson, who is going for gold this weekend, made her feelings clear during a BBC interview at the World Championship
Keely Hodgkinson will be hoping for a better feeling at the World Indoor Championships after admitting to feeling “awful” at the outdoor version last year. The Olympic 800m champion will compete in Poland this weekend, aiming to add indoor gold to her growing medal haul.
Hodgkinson is the clear favourite for victory after shattering the 800m indoor record in February. Her build-up to the event has been superior to her preparation ahead of the outdoor World Championship in Tokyo last year, which she entered after recovering from a hamstring injury.
She sailed through to the final despite feeling less than brilliant, telling the BBC after her heat: “Honestly, we know I don’t like the rounds.
“They feel awful, they are awful. But I just really wanted to enjoy being back in the stadium. It was just get the job done. I don’t like the heat, it can feel worse winning [in] 1.59 than it does winning [in] 1.55.”
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Having arrived in Japan early to attend a pre-championship training camp, Hodgkinson admitted she had been overwhelmed by boredom. She said: “I have been losing my mind. I’ve been so bored just waiting for it to come around.
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“I was really excited to get out there tonight and it’s our turn to have some fun and get on the stage. It’s been a long week just waiting around.”
She then took a swipe at the event planners, sarcastically remarking: “Whoever put the 800m last [in the schedule], thank you! But I was really looking forward to getting out here. At one point, I didn’t even know if I’d be here. It definitely means a lot.”
Hodgkinson went on to secure bronze but will be aiming for nothing less than gold this weekend. The women’s 800m semi-finals were held on Saturday morning, with the final on Sunday evening.
The 24-year-old was drawing motivation from her younger self ahead of the event. She said: “I’m embracing my 19-year-old fearless, doesn’t think too much, just turns up kind of attitude.
“It’s working for me. I’m just having fun with everything. Competition brings so many different things, you don’t actually know what is going to happen, and that’s the exciting thing about a global championships.”
This is Hodgkinson’s first appearance at the World Indoor Championships after injuries ruled her out of the last three, including a late withdrawal four years ago. She said: “It’s the one medal I don’t have. So that would be really great to box that one off. Just happy to make the start line this time.
“Until I cross the finish line, I’m not going to jinx anything, but I’m excited to be here, excited to compete. The competition looks great and we’ll see what happens.”