Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson admits she finds running ‘horrible’ and reveals why she will never date another athlete again after winning gold in the 800m

Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson admits she finds running 'horrible' and reveals why she will never date another athlete again after winning gold in the 800m

As an ardent fan of Keely Hodgkinson, I find her journey both captivating and inspiring. She is not your typical sports enthusiast who fell in love with the sport from the get-go; instead, she recognized her talent and mental fortitude, pushing herself to greatness despite finding running itself “horrible.” Her gold medal victory at the Paris Olympics was a testament to her resilience and determination.


At the Paris Olympics, she shone brightly as the standout athlete after achieving an astonishing win in the women’s 800m event.

Despite finding running itself unpleasant, Keely Hodgkinson took up the sport as she relishes the thrill of competition and the joy of victory.

The 22-year-old gold medalist disclosed that she didn’t develop a romantic affection for the sport, yet she recognized her innate skillset and mental fortitude to drive herself towards excellence.

In a conversation with The Sunday Times Style Magazine, Keely expressed: “I didn’t fall in love with it, but I realized I was skilled at it. I enjoy feeling fit and well, but the process of training is grueling, it’s painful – I don’t find joy in that part.

I feel confident that I can persevere through it, giving my all, as I believe I possess a natural aptitude for that particular skill.

Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson admits she finds running 'horrible' and reveals why she will never date another athlete again after winning gold in the 800m

Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson admits she finds running 'horrible' and reveals why she will never date another athlete again after winning gold in the 800m

As an ardent enthusiast, I can’t hide my passion for triumphing and thriving in competition. The thrill of anticipating victory never fades. Yet, let’s face it, running itself is far from pleasurable. It leaves me gasping for breath more often than not, and exhaustion becomes a constant companion.

In a remarkable achievement, the female runner hailing from Atherton clinched the gold medal in the 800-meter event at the Olympics, marking her initial victory at this prestigious level. This triumph also broke a British record that had been set by Dame Kelly Holmes exactly 20 years prior.

She beat Tsige Duguma of Ethiopia by nearly half a second, crossing the finish line in 1 minute, 56.72 seconds, as opposed to his time of 1 minute, 57.15 seconds.

She created history as the initial British athlete to claim a gold medal in track and field events during this year’s sports competition after her victory.

In a different part of the conversation, Keely explained that she has decided not to date any more runners following her breakup with her long-distance runner boyfriend from Britain in January, after three years as a couple.

She confessed that the great distance eventually led to the demise of their relationship, since she prioritized running over everything else, resulting in extended periods where they wouldn’t meet for weeks or even months.

Reflecting on the possibility of dating another athlete, I pondered: ‘There are certainly advantages and disadvantages. The downsides, for instance, lie in the uncertainty of meeting frequently. If a disagreement arises, resolving it involves virtual communication – no face-to-face conversations or quick train rides because they could be on the opposite side of the globe. Yet, one appreciates the dedication and shared understanding that such a lifestyle entails.’

Keely mentioned that she is content being single at the moment, and isn’t actively seeking romantic relationships since she finds herself too occupied with other matters.

Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson admits she finds running 'horrible' and reveals why she will never date another athlete again after winning gold in the 800m
Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson admits she finds running 'horrible' and reveals why she will never date another athlete again after winning gold in the 800m
Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson admits she finds running 'horrible' and reveals why she will never date another athlete again after winning gold in the 800m

In August, Keely announced her season is over after picking up a knee injury in training.

That particular British athlete was scheduled to run a 400-meter race in Berlin during that specific week, marking her initial competition since securing the Olympic gold medal for the 800 meters in Paris.

In early September, it was planned for Keely to participate in Diamond League competitions, first in Zurich and later in Brussels.

Instead, she won’t compete in any races this year due to a minor issue that cropped up when she resumed training after her brief vacation following the Olympics.

Mail Sport reports that Hodgkinson is believed to have sustained a similar knee injury on the outer side, which was the same one that kept her out during the indoor season earlier this year.

On Instagram, Keely posted: ‘I won’t be running any more races this time, as I’ve sustained a minor injury. However, we managed to accomplish all that I had aimed for this year.’

‘Thank you for all the love and support. See you on the track next year.’

As an ardent admirer, I can’t help but echo her sentiments: “I’m disheartened not to have ended this season with a grand flair, as my spirit and drive remain undiminished. Yet, I must acknowledge that it hasn’t been a disappointing season by any means.

Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson admits she finds running 'horrible' and reveals why she will never date another athlete again after winning gold in the 800m

This year, Keely remained undefeated in 800-meter races, successfully defending her European title in Rome during June. Moreover, she clinched her initial global gold medal at the Olympic Games held in Paris.

She also lowered her British record to 1min 54.61sec, moving her up to sixth on the all-time list.

Keely might attend her upcoming significant gatherings, first at the European Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn, Netherlands in March, and subsequently at the World Indoors in Nanjing, China, also in March.

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2024-10-06 21:04

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