Keely Hodgkinson Defends European 800m Title Despite Illness

Keely Hodgkinson successfully defended her European 800m title with a commanding victory despite battling illness, while Great Britain also secured gold in the women’s 4x100m relay on the final night of action in Rome. Hodgkinson, aged 22, led the race from start to finish and held off her competitors in the closing stages to clock a time of 1 minute 58.65 seconds. Despite revealing that she had been unwell the day before, Hodgkinson expressed satisfaction with her performance, emphasizing the determination required to win under challenging circumstances.

In another highlight for the British team, the women’s 4x100m relay squad, featuring Dina Asher-Smith, Desiree Henry, Amy Hunt and Daryll Neita claimed victory in 41.91 seconds. Asher-Smith, who ran the first leg and Neita, who anchored the team, spoke enthusiastically about their success and preparations for the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris. Overall, Great Britain finished third in the medal standings at the championships, securing four golds and a total of 13 medals. Italy topped the table, followed by France.

Other notable performances included Sweden’s Armand Duplantis winning the pole vault with a championship record and Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen adding the 1500m title to his 5000m crown. Italy’s Lamont Marcell Jacobs contributed to his country’s success in the men’s 4x100m relay while Dutch athlete Femke Bol clinched gold in the women’s 4x400m relay, adding to her individual 400m hurdles victory.

Looking ahead, Keely Hodgkinson expressed excitement about the prospects for the Paris 2024 Olympics aiming to build on her recent successes and compete for a global title.