Keely Hodgkinson says this year’s London Diamond League could be a “battle of the world records” as she seeks to topple athletics’ longest-standing mark on home soil.
The Olympic 800m champion will return to the London Stadium meet for the first time since her British-record run in the lead-up to her crowning moment at the Paris 2024 Games.
After an injury-disrupted 2025, the 24-year-old says she has not missed a single session during the best winter training block of her career – as evidenced when she smashed the world indoor record in February.
In the sport’s first season for five years without a global outdoor championship to prioritise, Hodgkinson’s attention has turned to the 43-year world 800m record time of one minute 53.28 seconds, set by Czech athlete Jarmila Kratochvilova in July 1983.
British team-mate Josh Kerr has already announced his intention to target the world mile record – which has stood since 1999 – in London on Saturday, 18 July.
“Obviously I would love to have that happen on home soil,” said Hodgkinson, discussing where she would ideally set the record this summer.
“I get really excited about London and the crowd. As a British person, competing there is so much fun.
“It’s definitely the main thing I’m looking forward to on the calendar this year.
“It might be a battle of the world records. Who can get a better one?” she joked.
