Keely Hodgkinson targets historic 800m world record after indoor feat

Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson believes she is "closer than ever" to breaking the longest-standing world record in athletics following her historic indoor performance.

The 23-year-old recently smashed the indoor global best but has now set her sights on Jarmila Kratochvilova’s 1983 mark.

That outdoor record of one minute 53.28 seconds has remained untouched for more than four decades.

Hodgkinson feels her recent form suggests the historic time is finally within reach.

"It’s not an easy feat and there’s a reason it has stood for so long," she told BBC Sport.

"I think this is the closest I’ve felt near it."

"I do really believe that we can break it, but a lot of things have got to come together."

Record-breaking form in France

The Wigan-born athlete clocked a stunning 1:54.87 in Lievin to obliterate a record that had stood since the day she was born.

Her coach, Jenny Meadows, suggested the run in France could have been even quicker.

Hodgkinson agrees that there is more speed to come.

"I’ve known for weeks I’m capable of breaking it," she explained.

"It’s just a matter of getting out on the day."

"We can push it even further in the future, as long as I stay healthy and I think this is hopefully just the beginning."

Overcoming injury heartbreak

This optimism marks a significant turnaround following a challenging period after the Paris 2024 Games.

Despite storming to Olympic gold, the middle-distance runner suffered a torn hamstring that halted her training.

The enforced break required a complete mental and physical reset.

"After winning the Olympics, it really wasn’t what I thought was going to happen," she admitted.

"It makes you stop and strip back everything and think, why is this happening? What are the problems?"

"But, we got through it, I became a stronger person, and I think this is now the reward of all of that happening."

Chasing athletics history

Lord Coe, the World Athletics president, has publicly backed the Briton to surpass Kratochvilova’s time this year.

However, the task remains immense, with the current benchmark standing over a second faster than Hodgkinson’s personal best of 1:54.61.

Kratochvilova’s 1983 performance has faced scrutiny regarding the doping regime of that era, though she has always denied wrongdoing.

For the reigning Olympic champion, the focus remains strictly on her own preparation.

"We’re on the right path and we’ve seen evidence in training that we think that it’s possible," Hodgkinson concluded.

"I think the reason this year has gone so well for me is because I’ve had my healthiest winter training I’ve had in years."