Keely Hodgkinson Fires Warning to Mary Moraa, Lilian Odira and Co With World Record in Lievin

Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson delivered a statement performance in Lievin, France, smashing a long-standing indoor world record and sending a clear message to rivals such as Mary Moraa and Lilian Odira.

The British star clocked a sensational 1:54.87 in the women’s 800m, eclipsing the previous mark of 1:55.82 that had stood for almost 24 years. Remarkably, that record had been set on March 3, 2002 — the very day Hodgkinson was born.

Fresh from her Olympic triumph at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Hodgkinson had openly targeted the record earlier in the week. Speaking before the race, the 23-year-old made it clear she was ready to attack the historic time — and she delivered in emphatic fashion.

“Thank God!” she said in a trackside interview, visibly thrilled. “That was really fun. I’ve been building up to this for a few weeks. The crowd was incredible, and I definitely wasn’t doing it alone — I had so much support around me.”

Hodgkinson Did Not Take Any Chances

Unlike her season opener at the UK Indoor Championships — where she ran an impressive 1:56.33 without pacemakers and admitted she had “accidentally run quite fast” — this attempt was carefully executed.

Wavelights were set at an aggressive 1:53.80 pace, ensuring she remained on track for something special. Guided by Polish pacemaker Anna Gryc, Hodgkinson passed 400m in 55.56 seconds. After the pacer stepped aside, she maintained her momentum, reaching 600m in 1:25.06 before powering down the final stretch to secure her place in history.

Once across the line, Hodgkinson celebrated by clapping and acknowledging fellow competitors before lying on the track to absorb the atmosphere. She embraced coaches Trevor Painter and Jenny Meadows, as well as training partner Georgia Hunter-Bell, who had earlier claimed victory in her own race.

The celebrations continued as Hodgkinson marked the milestone with a family selfie — a fitting end to a record-breaking night.