Hodgkinson Eyes Historic 800m World Record at London Diamond League

Hodgkinson Sets Sights on Breaking 43-Year-Old World Record in London

Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson has declared her ambition to shatter one of athletics' most enduring world records on home soil, describing this summer's London Diamond League as a potential "battle of the world records."

The 24-year-old British star, who claimed gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics, is returning to London Stadium for the first time since her British-record performance in the build-up to that triumph — and she has her eyes firmly set on a landmark that has survived for more than four decades.

Chasing a Record That Has Stood Since 1983

The women's 800m world record — one minute 53.28 seconds — was set by Czech athlete Jarmila Kratochvilova back in July 1983. It remains the longest-standing mark in track and field, and Hodgkinson is determined to bring it down in 2025, a season that carries no global outdoor championship pressure for the first time in five years.

After an injury-disrupted year that included two serious hamstring tears, Hodgkinson has bounced back emphatically. She reports completing the strongest winter training block of her career without missing a single session — a claim backed up by her stunning world indoor record performance in February.

"Obviously I would love to have that happen on home soil," Hodgkinson said, when asked about her preferred location for a potential world record attempt. "I get really excited about London and the crowd. As a British person, competing there is so much fun. It's definitely the main thing I'm looking forward to on the calendar this year."

A Battle of the Records?

Hodgkinson may not be alone in chasing history at the London Diamond League on 18 July. British teammate Josh Kerr has already confirmed his intention to target the men's world mile record — a mark that has stood since 1999 — at the same event.

"It might be a battle of the world records. Who can get a better one?" Hodgkinson said with a laugh.

Before London, the Bolton-born sprinter will kick off her outdoor season at the Rome Diamond League on 4 June, where she plans to test her raw speed over 400m. She will then begin building toward her world record bid with 800m outings in Stockholm and Eugene.

Flexibility Remains Key After Injury Setbacks

Despite her clear ambitions, Hodgkinson is taking a measured approach following the physical setbacks she endured during her first year as Olympic champion.

"We obviously have a plan 'A' of what we would like to happen," she explained. "The sport has its own plans sometimes, and it is not something you can straight away plan and think 'let's do this.' If I come into the shape where I think I want to go for the record a bit sooner, or it happens to be a bit later in the season, that could just be how it goes."

Should the record remain intact by the time the London date arrives, Hodgkinson will have another opportunity to race on home turf at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham in August.

Hodgkinson Champions London's Bid for 2029 World Championships

Beyond her personal ambitions, Hodgkinson is also a vocal advocate for bringing the World Athletics Championships back to London in 2029. The UK government has backed a bid to stage the event at London Stadium — which last hosted the championships in 2017 — though reports suggest negotiations have stalled over West Ham Football Club's reluctance to vacate the shared venue for approximately three weeks at the start of their 2029-30 season.

"I am really passionate about it. I didn't think we would get an opportunity in my career to get another global championships back in the UK," Hodgkinson said. "That would be not only amazing for our sport but also the people watching, inspiring the next generation and putting our sport out there. We would sell out that stadium every single day — I believe that wholeheartedly."