After more than a year of setbacks, tears, and rehabilitation, Keely Hodgkinson is finally set to make her much-anticipated return to the track. The Olympic 800m champion will compete in the Diamond League meeting in Silesia, Poland, marking her first race since her golden triumph in Paris.
For Hodgkinson, the journey back has been anything but smooth. A series of hamstring injuries disrupted her training plans and kept her sidelined for 375 days. She had targeted a return much earlier in the season, particularly at the London Diamond League, but persistent setbacks meant she had to wait until she was fully fit. Despite the frustration, the 23-year-old insists the time away has strengthened her resolve and made her even more eager to compete.
“It’s been a long wait, but I’m just happy to be back on the start line,” Hodgkinson explained before her comeback race. “This is what I love to do, and after everything, I’m ready to give it my best again.”
Her comeback in Poland will be a stern test, with a strong field assembled. Among her rivals will be Oratile Nowe of Botswana, who has clocked the fastest time of the season at 1:57.49, and Slovakia’s Gabriela Gajanova, who pushed Hodgkinson hard at last year’s European Championships. The race is expected to provide an important gauge of where Hodgkinson’s form stands after such a long layoff.
The plan is to ease back into competition, with another appearance lined up in Lausanne just four days later. For Hodgkinson, these races are less about immediate dominance and more about rebuilding rhythm, testing her body, and sharpening up ahead of next month’s World Championships in Tokyo.
The Olympic champion admits the recovery period tested her patience. Missing the chance to compete in front of her home crowd in London was particularly difficult. But she also believes the struggles have given her perspective and extra motivation for the challenges ahead.
“Back in June I couldn’t even train properly, so to be here now is really special,” she reflected. “Tomorrow is just a stepping stone toward Tokyo, but I’m excited to be competitive again.”
As she lines up in Poland, fans will be eager to see Hodgkinson back where she belongs charging down the track with the same determination that brought her Olympic glory.
