Keely Hodgkinson delivered a commanding performance in the final race of her 2026 campaign, 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 has endured a turbulent season marked by illness and a lingering hamstring issue, but she managed to finish the year on a high note, clocking 1:56.40 to retain her Athlos title. In recent weeks Hodgkinson disclosed that an MRI scan had identified an "abnormality" in her hamstring, a finding that has kept her on the sidelines for much of the past two months. Despite these setbacks, she has remained a central figure in the fiercely contested women’s 800‑metre field, which this year has been dominated by Switzerland’s rising talent Audrey Werro and the Netherlands’ seasoned competitor Femke Bol.
The trio have been trading places at the front of the pack, collectively edging closer to the long‑standing world record of 1:53.28, a mark that has stood untouched for 43 years. Werro and Bol were absent from the StoneX Stadium on Friday, allowing Hodgkinson to run unchallenged for much of the race.
She crossed the line in 1:56.40, comfortably securing the win and defending the crown she first claimed at Athlos the previous year. Athlos itself is a women‑only athletics series that debuted in 2023, founded by Reddit co‑creator Alexis Ohanian, who is married to tennis legend Serena Williams. The event is designed to spotlight female athletes and provide a platform for innovation and style in the sport.
"I’m honoured they let me put this on show. I was a little nervous walking out. The shades helped me block out the noise, but it was really fun and it’s something I’ll remember forever," Hodgkinson said after the race.
She explained that the suit, developed in collaboration with Nike’s innovation team, represents a blend of fashion, performance technology, and scientific research. "Honestly this has been like a year in the making with all the adjustments and fittings.
It was a really fun process with the Nike innovation team. I think it’s a mixture of fashion, speed and science all coming together, for maybe the future of athletics potentially." The athlete added that being chosen to debut the garment at an all‑women’s event felt particularly fitting. "It was a real honour for them to choose me to put this out first.
We weren’t sure when we were going to wear it, but in hindsight an all‑women’s event, which is all about the glitz and glamour and putting eyes on women, a bit of a moment was the perfect way to finish the season. So it’s really exciting." Visually, the suit evoked memories of Australian sprint legend Cathy Freeman, who famously wore a distinctive outfit when she won the women’s 400 metres at the Sydney 2000 Olympics. Hodgkinson confirmed that the design complies with all governing‑body regulations and noted that she had already tested it during a training camp in South Africa, where ambient temperatures approached 40 °C. "The science was like technically with the air drag you’re slower with your hair out, but I was like, ‘that’s a non‑negotiable.
My hair is staying out.’ I’m very much ‘look good, feel good’ and that mental and physical balance matters," she explained. When asked about the prospect of wearing the suit at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Hodgkinson hinted that future regulations might evolve.
"We might know some things that people don’t! It was a test out there.
This is not something we haven’t seen before. Like Cathy Freeman and some other athletes from a while ago did something like this, and this is the updated new version, with the new technology." She also spoke about the personal inspiration she drew from Freeman’s iconic look, despite the latter competing before Hodgkinson was born.
"She was before I was born, but I have seen the race and photos. It was really cool to draw inspiration from the past and make it your own as well. The style was a big thing for me.
I wanted to be comfortable but I wanted to feel a little bit sexy, the back’s open and that makes it feel really cool so I’m not hot at all. It feels like I’m wearing nothing, to be honest." Beyond the fashion statement, Hodgkinson’s athletic ambitions remain lofty.
Earlier in the year she shattered the indoor women’s 800‑metre world record, and she has set her sights on the outdoor mark, which was established by Czechoslovakian runner Jarmila Kratochvílová in 1983. That record has been the subject of controversy, with allegations of state‑sponsored doping in the era, although Kratochvílová has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The British runner’s position in the global hierarchy has been challenged this season by Werro, who bested her at both the European Championships and the Ultimate Championships. Hodgkinson also missed the final two Diamond League meetings after sustaining a hamstring tear during the European Championships in Birmingham, though she continued to finish the race despite the injury.
"My body is quite literally built differently. Where most people have one tendon, mine is split – I have two – and we’re trying to figure out if it’s a strength or a weakness," Hodgkinson explained.
"So when one of them tore, I still had another one because it’s split. In Birmingham, it didn’t affect me during the race, but I could feel something wasn’t quite right.
It’s a weird one. You can still run on them.
I haven’t missed any training the last three weeks. But I’ve just had to alter my approach. I’ve had to take my foot off the speed training, because that’s when it’s most risky." Despite the physical hurdles, Hodgkinson’s resilience and willingness to experiment with cutting‑edge apparel underscore her status as a forward‑thinking athlete.
Her victory at Athlos not only capped a challenging season but also signaled a new chapter where performance, technology, and personal expression intersect on the track. As the sport looks ahead to the next Olympic cycle, Hodgkinson’s blend of competitive drive and innovative spirit may well set the tone for how future generations of runners approach both their training and their public personas.