Keely Hodgkinson capped off her 2026 campaign with a commanding performance, taking first place in the women's 800 metres at the Athlos meet in London while unveiling a brand‑new, full‑length hooded speed suit. The 24‑year‑old British middle‑distance star had endured a turbulent few months, battling illness and a recent hamstring issue that an MRI later identified as an "abnormality" in the muscle. Despite these setbacks, she managed to dominate the final race of the season, finishing in 1:56.40 and successfully defending the Athlos title.
The 800‑metre event this year has become a focal point for a thrilling rivalry among three elite athletes: Switzerland's rising star Audrey Werro, the Dutch contender Femke Broeders‑Bol, and Hodgkinson herself. All three have been pushing the limits of the world record, a time of 1:53.28 that has stood for more than four decades.
While Werro and Broeders‑Bol were absent from the StoneX Stadium on Friday, Hodgkinson seized the opportunity to showcase both her speed and her new attire. Athlos is a women‑only athletics series launched in 2023 by Reddit co‑founder Alexis Ohanian, who is married to tennis legend Serena Williams. The event aims to celebrate female athletes and bring a touch of glamour to track and field. Hodgkinson described her feelings about the suit and the occasion: "I was a little nervous walking out, but the hood helped block the noise.
It was fun and something I'll remember forever." The hooded suit was the result of an extensive development process with Nike's innovation team. Hodgkinson explained that the project took about a year, involving multiple fittings and adjustments. She said the design blends fashion, performance and scientific research, suggesting it could represent a glimpse of future athletic wear. "It felt like a mixture of fashion, speed and science all coming together," she said, noting that being selected as the first athlete to wear the prototype was a great honour.
Visually, the outfit evoked memories of Australian sprinter Cathy Freeman, who famously wore a striking ensemble when she won the women's 400 metres at the Sydney 2000 Olympics. Hodgkinson confirmed that the suit complies with all regulations and mentioned that she had already trained in it during a heat‑wave session in South Africa, where temperatures neared 40 °C. "Technically, the drag is higher with your hair out, but I wasn't willing to compromise on style," she joked, emphasizing the balance between looking good and feeling good. When asked about the possibility of wearing the suit at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Hodgkinson hinted at future developments: "We might know some things that people don't!" She compared the technology to earlier innovations, noting that athletes like Freeman had experimented with similar concepts, but today's version incorporates modern materials and design.
Beyond the fashion aspect, Hodgkinson spoke about the practical benefits of the open‑back design, which keeps her cool and comfortable during intense effort. "It feels like I'm wearing nothing at all," she said, adding that the suit's lightweight construction helps maintain a sense of freedom while still providing the aerodynamic advantages that elite runners seek. Earlier in the year, Hodgkinson broke the indoor world record for the women's 800 metres in February, raising expectations that she might also challenge the outdoor record set by Czechoslovakian runner Jarmila Kratochvílová in 1983.
That record remains controversial because of allegations of a state‑sponsored doping program in Czechoslovakia during that era, a claim Kratochvílová has consistently denied. The season, however, has not been smooth sailing for Hodgkinson. Swiss prodigy Audrey Werro overtook her in the European Championships and the Ultimate Championships, establishing herself as the new leader in the event. Hodgkinson missed the final two Diamond League meetings after sustaining a hamstring tear at the European Championships in Birmingham, though she continued to race despite the injury.
Explaining her unique physiology, Hodgkinson revealed that she possesses a split hamstring tendon—essentially two tendons instead of the usual single one. "My body is built differently. Where most people have one tendon, I have two, and we're still figuring out if that's a strength or a weakness," she said.
This anatomical quirk allowed her to finish the Birmingham race even after one tendon tore, though she felt something was off. "It’s a weird one.
You can still run on them. I haven't missed any training in the last three weeks, but I've had to adjust my approach," she added, noting that she has reduced high‑speed work to mitigate the risk of further damage. In summary, Hodgkinson's season‑ending victory not only reaffirmed her status as one of the premier 800‑metre runners in the world but also highlighted a bold step forward in athletic apparel.
The hooded speed suit, blending cutting‑edge technology with striking aesthetics, may signal a new era where performance gear becomes as much a statement of style as a tool for speed. As she looks ahead to the next Olympic cycle, Hodgkinson remains optimistic that continued innovation and careful injury management will keep her at the forefront of middle‑distance running.