Team GB's Keely Hodgkinson secured her first Olympic gold medal in the women's 800m final at Paris 2024. The 22-year-old took the lead early and maintained her position, crossing the finish line with a winning time of 1:56.72.
Hodgkinson’s victory is particularly sweet given her previous near-misses. She had to settle for silver at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and at the 2022 and 2023 World Championships. This time, however, she was determined to top the podium, outperforming Ethiopia’s Tsige Duguma, who claimed silver, and Kenya’s Mary Moraa, who took bronze.
Reflecting on her achievement, Hodgkinson told Eurosport, “It’s something I’ve dreamed of, it hasn’t sunk in yet. I’ve worked so hard for this, the crowd was incredible, it felt like a home Olympics for me, there were so many Brits in the stadium cheering me on. To celebrate that moment with all of them means so much.”
The race began with runners jostling for position, but Hodgkinson quickly asserted her dominance, mirroring her strategy from the semi-finals by moving to the front. She completed the first 400m in just over 58 seconds, a slightly slower pace that raised concerns she might be overtaken in the final lap. However, Hodgkinson’s control and endurance saw her maintain her lead to the end.
Hodgkinson’s triumph marks Great Britain's 12th gold medal of the Paris 2024 Games. She now joins an elite group of British women, including Denise Lewis and Jessica Ennis-Hill, who have won Olympic titles on the track.
Her victory not only highlights her exceptional talent but also her resilience and determination to overcome past disappointments and achieve her Olympic dream.
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