Keeley Hodgkinson’s Whirlwind NYC Adventure
Keeley Hodgkinson’s first day in New York City was nothing short of exhilarating. That’s quite a statement for someone who can sprint between subway stations in under two minutes.
During her hectic visit, she humorously mentioned wanting to take a pedicab from Central Park to Times Square, likely not realizing it would lead to quite a detour.
The Olympic champion in the 800 meters is in town for the exciting ATHROS New York City track and field event, set to take place at Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island this Friday night.
Claiming the title of a “feisty British girl,” Hodgkinson is passionate about promoting the sport that propelled her into the spotlight as a teenager. She harbors ambitious dreams of clinching back-to-back gold medals at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics while also aiming to break a longstanding world record.
“Every Olympics, there’s this surge of interest in track and field for two weeks, only for it to fade into obscurity for the next four years,” Hodgkinson shared during a roundtable discussion. “And I believe we’re gearing up for LA. The U.S. is perhaps one of the best at showcasing our sport. You’ve got the audience, the passion, and the resources to truly elevate it. That’s what we think.”
Athros is a step toward embracing that enthusiasm, a rarity outside the Olympic cycle.
This women-only track and field event, launched by Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, is returning for its second iteration. While Gabby Thomas is sidelined due to injury, Hodgkinson will compete alongside U.S. long jump gold medalist Tara Davis-Woodhall and world record holder Faith Kipyegon.
“I love that it shines a light on women’s sports,” Hodgkinson remarked. “There are so many remarkable athletes out there, and we get to share our stories.”
Hodgkinson’s journey gained widespread attention when she secured a surprise silver medal in the 800 meters at the Tokyo Olympics at just 19. She later won gold at the Paris Games, which she humorously states “took a year of perfecting those two minutes,” further boosting her profile. Yet, she faced several injuries that kept her off the track for a time before making a comeback to earn bronze at the world championships last month.
“I became an Olympic champion, but I didn’t step on a track for a year,” she reflected. “I want to be introduced as an Olympic champion when I race. I’ve worked really hard for that, but my body just hasn’t cooperated, and it was frustrating—there were definitely some tears.”
“But overcoming this makes me a stronger athlete. If I can navigate through it and succeed, that should be fantastic,” she added.
The prospect of winning back-to-back Olympic golds looms just three years away for Hodgkinson, who is now 26 and says she’s “nearing her peak,” with the biggest sporting event converging in a city renowned for its glitz.
“I’m really fortunate to be competing at this time, especially with the Olympics in Los Angeles on the horizon. I’m genuinely excited; it’s going to be something special, and I aim to defend my title,” Hodgkinson expressed.
Beyond that, she has her sights set on breaking the 42-year-old 800m world record, which has stood since Czechoslovakia’s Jarmila Kratočvilová set a questionable time of 1:53.28. Hodgkinson ranks as the sixth-fastest in history, with a personal best of 1:54.61.
“That’s definitely on my mind all the time,” she acknowledged. “When that record falls—it will be a monumental moment for track and field. It’s an impressive benchmark. I’ve seen hints of what I can achieve in training, and I believe it’s within reach, but everything—including mental and physical conditioning—needs to align perfectly.”
