Keeley Hodgkinson says 800m indoor world record ‘is mine’

The Olympic champion is confident of beating 2002’s Yolanda Czeplak in 1:55.82 in Lieu on Thursday and “welcomes the competition from Audrey Vero and Tsige Duguma”.

Twenty-four hours before taking to the Leawin track to attack the 800m world record, Keely Hodgkinson looked relaxed and confident at a pre-event press conference. Jolanda Ceplak’s 2002 mark of 1:55.82 as a target, she said.

Hodgkinson is fresh from setting up a British Record: 1:56.33 in Birmingham on Saturday. “It was good to have a run until this week because I haven’t raced indoors for three years,” he said. “I didn’t want to go that fast, which probably shows that I’m in a really good place.”

She will face Switzerland’s Audrey Verreau and Ethiopia’s Tsigi Duguma, among others, in Lievin on Thursday evening. Vero held the 2026 world title until last weekend, while Dugouma won the 2024 world indoor title and was runner-up to Hodgkinson at the Paris Olympics.

“I’ll do what I do and focus on my own race,” Hodgkinson said with a smile, adding that he didn’t want to give up his race strategy. “I’m sure they all have their plans.

“I think it’s going to be a fun and exciting race and I’m glad these girls are going to be in it because we can push each other and that’s when you get really competitive racing and fast times.

“I welcome the competition”.

Jarmila Kratochvila’s long-standing outdoor world record of 1:53.28 continues to haunt Hodgkinson as well, and the Czech athlete’s 1983 performance may be on the Briton’s mind when she takes to the Livin track.

“When I line up, I always try to run as fast as I can, and I’m definitely in the shape to run fast,” he said. “I also think it’s not just about the world (indoor) record, it’s about seeing how fast we can actually go, especially at this time of year and on a closed track.”

Hodgkinson also believes the new start in the indoor 800m, where athletes enter the inner lane later than before, will also suit him when it comes to running as fast as possible. He explains. “The new launch is definitely faster than the old one and I really like that. It gives us more time to not be on top of each other. We have 150m lanes instead of 100m and I don’t know why we didn’t do it sooner, to be honest.”

MORE. Kratochvilova’s immortal world record

What would a world record mean to him? “I think it would just be nice to have one. And that’s a sign of achievement. It’s also set on my birthday, which is a little weird, but I like that stat and think it’s mine, so I’m looking forward to getting it going.”

He added: “There really are no limits and I’m learning this every year as I get stronger. These 1:54s and 1:55s are becoming more regular and the standard is getting higher and higher and I can definitely see some great things in the future and hopefully I have another 10 years in me.”

READ MORE. Keeley takes aim at Ceplak’s 800m record

After Liewyn, Hodgkinson will race over 400m in preparation for next month’s World Indoor Championships in Poland. “It will be nice because I haven’t done it in two years,” he says.

Then, about the World Indoors, he adds: “I’ve never actually done the World Indoor Champs, even though I’ve tried to get there three times. I hope to take my first world title to add to my collection and I’m looking forward to doing it in Europe.”