Keely Hodgkinson Withdraws from 400m Final at UK Athletics Championships
Quick Look
- Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson withdrew from the 400m final at the UK Athletics Championships in Birmingham on Sunday.
- The 24-year-old, who was using the shorter distance to improve her speed for an 800m world record attempt, appeared emotional as she stepped off the track before the race.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Keely Hodgkinson, the Olympic 800m champion, was competing in the 400m at the UK Athletics Championships to improve her speed for an 800m world record attempt. She had an injury-disrupted 2025 season.
Keely Hodgkinson pulled out of the 400m final at the UK Athletics Championships moments before Sunday's race.
The Olympic 800m champion has been competing over the shorter distance in a bid to improve her first-lap speed and challenge for the 800m world record this summer.
After qualifying from Saturday's heats, she warmed up for the final in Birmingham but stepped off the track right before the finalists were put under starters' orders.
Hodgkinson looked emotional as she stood at the side of the track before making her way back inside the Alexander Stadium.
The 24-year-old endured an injury-disrupted 2025 and her shock withdrawal on Sunday comes four weeks before the London Diamond League meeting, which she had earmarked for a tilt at the 800m world record.
Open Questions
- What caused Hodgkinson's withdrawal?
- Will this affect her 800m world record attempt?
- What is the nature of her previous injury disruptions?
