Hodgkinson going on the RECORD

KEELY Hodgkinson is ‘100 per cent’ certain breaking athletics’ longest-standing world record is only a matter of time.

- BY RACHEL STEINBERG

The Olympic gold medallist has arrived at the World Championships as the fastest woman over 800 metres this year. ‘A bit of a miracle? Hodgkinson marvels, after the yearlong injury absence that left her experiencing ‘unpredictable mood swings’ and unsure just two months ago whether she would even be fit to fight for a maiden world title next week in Tokyo.

The 23-year-old played down the likelihood of lowering Jarmila Kratochvilova’s 42-year-old mark of one minute 53.28 seconds in the same Japanese stadium where Hodgkinson collected silver as a 19-year-old Olympic debutant in 2021, but she is at least open to surprises.

“We know it’s in there, but it ain't going to come out every day,’ said Hodgkinson, whose title bid begins with next Thursday’s heats.

“It’s not going to be world class every single day, but I thought it was possible last year, we've now managed to get to it again in another year, so you just keep building.