Hodgkinson relishing chance for European 800m gold in Birmingham

On 9 August 2026 Keely Hodgkinson said she was relishing the prospect of winning European gold in Birmingham at the European Athletics Championships, and added: "It would mean as much to me, almost, as winning in Paris."

The 24-year-old is the headline act as the championships come to Britain for the first time in the competition’s 92-year history and said the intense spotlight only increases her determination to claim 800m gold. "I don't really see it as pressure," she said. "I just see it as more of a motivation. There's going to be a lot of my family there to support me, and hopefully I'll be able to stand on top of the podium and have a national anthem in the UK."

Hodgkinson faces a strong field that includes the world’s four fastest women in 2026, among them the Swiss runner Audrey Werro, who ran 1min 53.98 in June and became the third fastest woman in the race’s history. The entry list also features Femke Broeders‑Bol, described in the report as a former 400m hurdle world champion who has recorded 1:55 this year. Hodgkinson said she still believes she is the best in the world over two laps and intends to prove it on the track: "This is what I train for," Hodgkinson said. "This is the exciting moment. I've had lots of people come around and challenge me but I've medalled at every single championships. It's going to be the race of the championships. It's really interesting to look at how the standard in Europe has come on. But I think it's really exciting - it just means that a European title is just as important, and just as fun, as a world title at this point."

Hodgkinson confirmed she was back to full fitness after injuring both knees in a fall onto a metal grate in late June. "I feel in a good place. Obviously there's a bit of a tough patch in June/July but I'm happy and I'm excited to compete and I just think it'll bring out the best in me. My knees are healed. I've got some fat scars but they're all fine. It was just a sticky one. I didn't miss any training or anything. It was more just a lot of pain and inflammation. I'm looking forward to putting that behind me."

Britain will hope for an early flourish on the first day of competition, with Amy Hunt the favourite for women's 100m gold ahead of the defending champion Dina Asher-Smith and Poland's Ewa Swoboda.

Hodgkinson's 800m campaign begins on Tuesday, with the semi-finals on Thursday and the final on Friday, and she said of the wider British team: "I think we'll get a few surprise medals as well. The team is really strong and I think it's going to do great things for the sport by inspiring the next generation."