Keely Hodgkinson capped off her 2026 campaign in spectacular fashion, clinching 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 two months marked by illness and a nagging hamstring problem, which she disclosed this week after an MRI revealed an "abnormality" in the muscle. Despite those setbacks, Hodgkinson showed the poise and power that have made her a global favorite, crossing the finish line in 1:56.40 to retain her Athlos crown.
The race itself was less crowded than usual because Switzerland's rising star Audrey Werro and the Netherlands' Femke Bol, who have been trading blows with Hodgkinson all season, were absent from the StoneX Stadium track on Friday. Their absence allowed Hodgkinson to dictate the pace, but the win was still significant. The trio – Hodgkinson, Werro and Bol – have been chasing the 43‑year‑old world record of 1:53.28, a time that has become a tantalising benchmark for the women's 800 metres.
Their rivalry has turned the event into a must‑watch headline, with each athlete pushing the others to faster splits and tighter finishes. Athlos, the all‑women's showcase that launched in 2023, was founded by Reddit co‑founder Alexis Ohanian, who is married to tennis legend Serena Williams. The event aims to celebrate female athletes and provide a platform for innovation, fashion and performance to intersect. Hodgkinson’s decision to debut the hooded suit at this particular meet was deliberate – the event’s emphasis on glamour and visibility offered the perfect stage for a bold new look.
"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 had been a year‑long project involving countless fittings and collaborations with Nike's innovation team.
"It feels like a mixture of fashion, speed and science all coming together – maybe the future of athletics," she added, noting that the design balances aerodynamic efficiency with personal style. The outfit sparked comparisons to Australian sprint legend Cathy Freeman, who famously wore a striking ensemble when she won the women's 400 metres at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Hodgkinson confirmed that the suit complies with all regulations and mentioned that she had already tested it during a training block in South Africa, where temperatures neared 40 °C.
"The science says that with your hair out you create more drag, but I wasn't willing to compromise – my hair stays out. I believe looking good and feeling good creates the right mental and physical balance," she explained. When asked about the possibility of wearing the suit at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Hodgkinson was coy but optimistic. "We might know some things that people don't!
It was a test out there. This isn’t something we haven’t seen before – athletes like Cathy Freeman experimented with similar concepts years ago. This is the updated version with new technology," she said.
She also highlighted the emotional resonance of drawing inspiration from past icons while adding a contemporary twist. "The style was a big thing for me. I wanted to be comfortable but also feel a little bit sexy – the open back keeps me cool and makes it feel like I'm wearing nothing," she laughed.
Beyond the fashion statement, Hodgkinson's performance carries weight in the context of her recent record‑breaking indoor 800 m run in February, where she set a new world best. She has been eyeing the long‑standing outdoor record of 1:53.28, originally set by Czechoslovakian runner Jarmila Kratochvílová in 1983. That mark remains controversial due to allegations of state‑sponsored doping in the era, although Kratochvílová has consistently denied any wrongdoing. Hodgkinson’s ambition to eclipse that time adds another layer of intrigue to her season.
The British athlete’s 2026 campaign has been a roller‑coaster. After being overtaken in the rankings by Werro – who bested her at both the European Championships and the Ultimate Championships – Hodgkinson missed the final two Diamond League meetings. She later revealed that she sustained a hamstring tear during the European Championships in Birmingham, yet she continued to compete 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 that’s a strength or a weakness," she explained. "When one of them tore, the other was still intact, so I could still run, but I felt something was off." Hodgkinson emphasized that the split‑tendon anatomy has forced her to adapt her training.
"I haven’t missed any training in the last three weeks, but I’ve had to alter my approach. I’ve taken my foot off the speed work because that’s when the risk is highest," she said.
This pragmatic adjustment highlights her resilience and determination to stay competitive while managing a delicate injury. Looking ahead, Hodgkinson remains focused on returning stronger, refining her technique, and perhaps most importantly, continuing to experiment with performance apparel that merges aesthetics with function. Her Athlos victory, complete with the eye‑catching hooded suit, may signal the start of a new era where athletes are as much style icons as they are record‑breakers. Whether that trend will influence future Olympic uniforms remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Hodgkinson’s blend of speed, style, and scientific curiosity is already reshaping the conversation around what elite athletes can wear on the track.