Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson shares her experiences of balancing fame, relationships, and the pressures of success after her gold medal victory.
After her monumental win in the 800m at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Hodgkinson has not only become a household name but also one of Britain’s most promising athletes. However, behind her glamorous public persona lies an athlete who has put in years of hard work and faced significant challenges to reach the top.
Despite the rapid rise to fame, she remains grounded. “Life’s changed,” she tells The Sunday Times. “I get spotted a lot more now, and my Instagram followers have shot up. I’m still getting used to that.”
Among her new fans is David Beckham, who commented on her victory post. “That was pretty cool,” she smiles, reflecting on the attention.
Hodgkinson maintains her humility, cherishing time with old friends. “I don’t think I ever fell in love with running,” she reflects while sipping her oat latte. “I just knew I was good at it. I love feeling healthy, but training is horrible, it’s painful. I don’t love that part at all.”
At the Olympics, she triumphed over reigning world champion Mary Moraa, clocking a time of 1:56.72. “I believed in myself,” she asserts. “I knew I was in unbeatable shape this year. It’s that gold medal mindset—you have to believe you belong there before you even cross the finish line.”
Hodgkinson’s confidence stems from her work with a sports psychologist. “I’ve always had that pressure to win,” she notes. “But this year, I really worked on my mindset. I was talking about being a gold medallist months before I even won the race. It’s all about believing in yourself.”
After her Olympic success, Hodgkinson seamlessly transitions into the world of high fashion, attending London Fashion Week. “I love fashion,” she states. “It’s a different world from what I’m used to, but I enjoy it. I’m still figuring out my style, though—it changes all the time.”
Despite her celebrity status, she stays close to her family in Salford, who have been a pillar of support throughout her journey. “They’ve always been there for me,” she reminisces about her upbringing in Greater Manchester, being the eldest of four siblings.
Her competitive spirit emerged early, as she began racing at nine and became the English under-17 champion by 15. However, the transition to Olympic champion has had its challenges. “It’s hard when you feel like you’re growing up so fast,” she admits. “I struggled with that last year—just feeling a bit lost, like I wasn’t quite in sync with myself.”
Seeking the help of a sports psychologist proved invaluable. “It wasn’t something I thought I’d need, but it made a massive difference.” Maintaining friendships is also vital to her, as she prioritizes time with her six close friends who lead “normal lives.”
“I make the most of my off-periods,” she explains. “Every year in September, I book a night out with my friends, and we have one big night out.”
In her personal life, she reflects on past relationships, including a recent breakup with a fellow runner due to the challenges of long-distance. “Long-distance killed it,” she admits. “It was tough.”
Now focused on her career, she states, “I’m not really interested in dating right now. I’ve never been on the apps. I like meeting people in real life.” Looking ahead, Hodgkinson has set her sights on the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo. “There’s a world title I haven’t won yet. That’s next on the list.”
Though ambitious, she remains realistic about the challenges of her sport. “Running is tough,” she reiterates. “It’s not glamorous when you’re out of breath and tired all the time. But I love winning. That’s what drives me.”
