“See you on the track next year.” This is a defiant promise from an athlete who dominated the season, capturing gold at the Paris Olympics and leaving competitors in her wake. But a sudden setback has fans questioning whether this confident declaration will hold true, as the road ahead now looks uncertain. The 22-year-old British runner Keely Hodgkinson – who was set to face off against her competitors in the Diamond League – has suffered an injury.

In Paris, she retained her European 800m crown and shattered her national record at 1:54.61 at the London Diamond League in July. Her next goal was to break the women’s world record of 1:53.28, which has stood for over four decades. Now, fans are left wondering—will she be able to return to her previous form after this setback?

British athlete makes disheartening announcement

Recently, the Track & Field Gazette delivered heartbreaking news on X, “Olympic 800m Champion Keely Hodgkinson has announced an injury, bringing her season to a close. She was unbeaten in all her 800m races in 2024, clocking a PB of 1:54.61 and a 400m best of 51.61s.” For fans of the beloved British track star, she’ll miss the rest of the 2024 athletics season—a season that had seen her dominate the field. After an incredible streak, winning all nine of her 800m races this year, Keely shared the problematic news on Instagram. “No more races for me,” she wrote, revealing the injury that has sidelined her. “Unfortunately, I picked up a small injury, but we achieved everything I had hoped to do this year. Thank you for all the love and support.” Her words, filled with gratitude, resonate with fans who have watched her shine and now share in her disappointment.

In this year’s Paris Olympics, she was in good form and performed excellently in all her races. After blowing away the competition to win by a 0.43-second margin, she said, “I would love to see how fast I can go before the end of the season because I’ve got myself in this shape.” She further said she does not want to waste it. So, she was ready to get the crown and finished in 1:56:72, leaving behind Ethiopia’s Tsige Duguma, who claimed silver, and Kenya’s Mary Moraa, who took bronze. 

She was the sixth fastest woman of all time over two laps, so she could not sink in her win. In a post-race interview, she told the reporter, “The crowd was just absolutely incredible, it felt like a home Olympics for me. It just made the moment super special and I’m super happy.” She came to Paris with high hopes and wanted to prove her dominance on the track. She came second in the 2022 and 2023 World Championships and the Tokyo Olympics and bagged silver. So, since she was not satisfied with her performance last year, Keely went through a rigorous training session this year.

She was poised to be the favorite to secure more victories at the Diamond League finals in Brussels this September. However, a sudden injury dashed her hopes of adding more gold to her collection. While the exact cause of the injury remains unclear, it’s confirmed that it occurred during training. Following her announcement, fans were deeply saddened but rallied in full support of their beloved athlete and top middle-distance runner.

Fans reacted to Keely Hodgkinson’s announcement on season-end

Keely Hodgkinson’s latest declaration that she is finished for the season sparked an outpouring of emotions. Many expressed their support and concerns for this young track star. They hope she will keep her promise and return next year in her best form. One fan emotionally reacted, “😭😭😭😭😭noo Keely 😭😭😭. Still love you get well soon🥹” The fan expressed disappointment while showing full support for the performances Keely has given this year. Despite the sadness, their loyalty shines through their reactions as this fan wishes for her speedy recovery.

Another fan appreciated her performance in the Paris Olympics and commented, “Hope everything is all good, but honestly, she did what she needed to do at the Olympics! Rest up and heal up.” This fan acknowledges Keely’s achievements at the Paris Olympics, emphasizing that she has already proven herself as a remarkable performer. Their concern is blended with a deep sense of understanding and pride, confident that she will bounce back and savor future triumphs. Next admirer playfully reacted on the news, and said, “Olympic gold already in the kitty, the injury is allowed 🤤” with a reassuring attitude. This fan humorously said that as Keely has given back-to-back personal bests, she can now rest. Through this statement, the fan indicates that athletes also need time to get back in good form. 

Reflecting on the Brussels Diamond League, this fan commented, “Gutted! I think they were all set to give the WR a shot in Brussels… Oh well…stunningly good season! 🙌” With a heavy heart, this admirer’s disappointment is evident. As all the fans were waiting for Keely’s world record attempt, this sudden challenging situation worsened them. Next, the fan showed a mature perspective on the news, saying, “Smart to take time out to heal. It’s been amazing watching her run. Rehab properly so you can come back even better.” This admirer values Keely’s decision to take a break because of the injury. Their focus now has shifted from the missed opportunities to the future glory, and they believe she will return better and stronger.

Another fan expressed a sense of longing by commenting, “Damn i wish we could see her 400.” This admirer wanted to witness Keely dominate the 400m event this season. However, later, the fans’ anticipation turned into acceptance of the situation. One more fan reacted surprisingly while appreciating her journey at this age, “SHES 22!?! How I did I miss this? What a season.”  This fan is reminding us all about her potential. The admirer is surprised that she has achieved so many titles at this young age. 

However, beyond just her fans, we’re all hoping for Keely Hodgkinson’s swift recovery. While she may have missed her goal of securing more gold medals this season, there’s optimism that she’ll claim the World Championship crown in Tokyo in 2025.