Keely Hodgkinson of Great Britain secured a stunning gold medal in the women’s 800m final at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on August 5, finishing strongly ahead of Ethiopia’s Tsige Duguma and Kenya’s Mary Moraa with a time of 1:56.72.
“I have waited a long time,” Hodgkinson expressed joyfully. “The girls… they’re incredible and are raising the standards. We’re pushing this event to new heights. It has been amazing to be a part of this, and finally achieving the gold means everything.”
Determined to improve on her silver medal from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Hodgkinson executed a flawless race in front of a crowd of 80,000 at the Stade de France.
“You just have to be consistent and hope that one day your time will come. Today was that day,” she reflected. “And what better way to do it than at the Olympics? I’ve even lost my voice from all the excitement. It has been incredible and something I’ll remember for the rest of my life.”
Her performance will undoubtedly serve as a model for future athletes aiming for Olympic success.
The 22-year-old from Manchester skillfully navigated the first turn, moving to the front of the race with 600m to go. With 500m left, she confidently surged ahead of Duguma, asserting control as the race progressed.
Hodgkinson effectively defended her lead against challenges from Moraa, Duguma, and South Africa’s Prudence Sekgodiso down the back straight, ultimately pulling away in the final stretch to solidify her dominance in the 800m event.
“I feel like you have to believe from the start, but you never know how it’s going to unfold,” Hodgkinson noted. “It was a bit slower than I anticipated, but I just had to trust myself.
“Hopefully, it will sink in tomorrow that I am the Olympic champion. I can’t wait to stand on that podium and hear my national anthem, truly soaking in the moment.”