Keely Hodgkinson definitely knows how to end a season on a high! After scooping up a bronze medal in the women’s 800m at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Keely and her silver medalist teammate, Georgia Hunter Bell, hit the town for a fun night out. They belted out Miley Cyrus’ ‘Party in the USA’ in a lively karaoke session – still in their track kits and medals proudly displayed. Talk about celebrating in style!
Despite an injury-ridden season, Keely showed grit and determination, delivering her third-fastest season run. Just 0.01 seconds kept her from silver, as Kenya’s Lilian Odira took the gold. It wasn’t the gold she hoped for after her Paris Olympic triumph, but Keely’s positivity shone through. She summed up her challenging year candidly: “It’s been a s***show,” she bluntly stated, adding that every athlete has those years where nothing goes as planned, but she’s proud to stay on track.
Keely powered through a hamstring injury and even a nagging stomach issue, showing resilience and sportsmanship. UK Athletics’ performance director, Paula Dunn, praised her for competing despite being unwell, highlighting her dedication to representing Great Britain. In her words, “Keely could quite easily have not come… For her to put her reputation on the line, to run unwell with minimal races, is amazing.”
With the relief of the race behind them, Keely and Georgia’s Tokyo night out extended into the early hours, complete with McDonald’s at 3 am! 🥳🎤
Here’s to Keely Hodgkinson – a true champ, on and off the track, who’s shown that embracing the journey is what makes it all worthwhile. 🏅💪 #KeelyHodgkinson #TokyoNights #AthleticsChampionships #BritishPride