When Keely Hodgkinson was 13, making it to the Olympics seemed like a far-off dream. Back then, she was dealing with an illness that left her unable to walk and 95% deaf. Fast forward to 2024, and Keely’s still facing challenges. Right before the European 800m final, she didn’t feel like herself at all. Her throat was scratchy, her head was pounding, and her sniffles kept getting worse. Lying in bed before the race, she couldn’t help but ask herself, “Can I really run today?”

Keely didn’t make the call until the very last minute. After loading up on First Defence, Aspirin, paracetamol, and vitamin C, the 22-year-old decided to go for it. It wasn’t pretty—she wasn’t feeling great, but Hodgkinson still managed to pull it off. With the final stretch looming, Slovakia’s Gabriela Gajanova threatened to take the win, but Keely dug deep and crossed the line in 1:56.72, beating Gajanova by just 0.14 seconds. She breathed a sigh of relief, clearly feeling the weight of that battle.

Yet, as the favorite for Paris, few knew that Keely Hodgkinson was ill in the days leading up to the race. But, she decided to run right before she stepped onto the track to start running. In spite of his illness, Hodgkinson had to persevere and win though in pain. Reflecting on what she said she noted that being Europe’s best 800m runner kept her calm and confident looking forward.

In a recent interview on Sky Sports News YouTube channel, Keely provided insight into the inner fortitude that guided her forward. “I think you have—um, I feel like I’m quite intuitive sometimes, and I just felt like I’d done all the work to make sure this was my year,” she explained. She also mentioned that in the Paris race, she sensed that everything was falling into place as if it was meant to be. “I felt like all I had to do was just not get in any trouble, not fall over, and I just felt like it was already kind of written.”

Keely holds the belief that certain outcomes are predetermined and this perspective aided in her composure during a situation; she had faith that events would transpire as they were destined to unfold. In the process, she also triumphed over a tumor.

The nerve-wracking race that almost destroyed Keely Hodgkinson’s career

Keely Hodgkinson almost didn’t make it to the peak of her career due, to a hurdle she encountered at the age of 13—a non-cancerous tumor in her skull that had been growing for more than ten years and putting pressure on her hearing bones while posing a threat to her spines vicinity as well. Faced with a decision by doctors—whether to undergo surgery to remove the tumor or take the chance of it advancing towards her spine and risking permanent facial paralysis—she stood at a crossroads that would shape her future journey, in sports. Going through such a decision at the age of 13 was really tough for her and the thought of having surgery was absolutely terrifying.

Following the surgery procedure was quite a challenging recovery journey, for her as it resulted in difficulty walking and balance troubles due to hearing issues that prevented her from attending school for a month. Moreover, she had to refrain from any demanding activities for three months. No jumping or running was allowed as it could hinder her healing process. During this period Keely pondered whether pursuing athletics was still the path, for her.

There was a competition that nearly made her give up altogether. The one, in Manchester against an opponent where anxiety threatened to overwhelm her completely. It was when her father assured her of a pair of shoes that she mustered the determination to participate in the race. Ultimately emerging victorious by a hair’s breadth she reflected on how crucial her father’s encouragement had been in helping her confront her anxieties and persevere, in the sport.

Keely had come a long way by the time she reached the 2024 Paris Olympics after overcoming struggles with determination, she faced another after Paris. Her intention to compete in the Berlin and Brussels races got halted due to an injury that forced her to end her season. Although this setback was disappointing for Keely she found solace in knowing that she had already accomplished all her goals, for this year.