Keely Hodgkinson just dropped a bombshell, pulling out of the women’s 800 meters at Thursday’s Diamond League meeting in Zurich because her “body is not quite ready.” This isn’t just a minor skip, either. She didn’t even compete at the Lausanne Diamond League last week. What’s going on with one of track’s biggest stars?
Her Body’s Sending a Loud Message
This withdrawal is a huge blow, especially considering what she told us. Hodgkinson said in a statement, “Unfortunately the body isn’t quite ready to race again after the European Championships. We’ve made the decision to skip this race and get ready for the next one. Sad to miss it, hopefully see you next year!” That’s a tough pill to swallow, especially when she *really* wanted to be there. She was set to go head-to-head with Switzerland’s Audrey Werro, who just beat her to gold at the European Championships in Birmingham. This was her chance for some redemption, a chance to show she’s still the best, and now she can’t even get on the track.
The Stakes Are Higher Than Ever
The Zurich field is still loaded, even without Hodgkinson. We’ll see world 400m hurdles champion Femke Broeders-Bol, who’s stepped up to the 800m this season, and Hodgkinson’s own training partner, Georgia Hunter-Bell, fresh off winning 800m gold at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow last month. Oh, and here’s another kicker: world 800m champion Lilian Odira of Kenya, who beat both Hodgkinson and Hunter-Bell to gold in Tokyo last year, has *also* pulled out. She’s been dealing with “illness and weakness” since the Commonwealth Games. Are these top athletes just hitting the wall after a brutal summer?
You have to wonder about Hodgkinson’s long-term health. She’s battled hamstring and knee injuries over the past few years, even skipping the Commonwealth Games to prioritize the European Championships with such a packed schedule. She told us earlier this month in Birmingham, “I signed myself up for Zurich because I knew everyone was in it but me. I want to be in with the best and I think that’s going to bring out the best in me.” This is a competitor who *wants* to be in the fight! Remember back on July 18, before winning 800m gold at the London Diamond League, she was feeling “definitely a lot better than I was.” Man, what a difference a month makes.
The Zurich meet is the penultimate Diamond League event of the season, with the grand final set for Brussels over two days on September 4 and 5. With her body not cooperating right now, can Hodgkinson get healthy enough to make a real run in Brussels? This season has been a rollercoaster, and her next move is gonna be everything. We’re all holding our breath to see if she can get back in fighting shape before it’s all over.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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