Keely Hodgkinson’s coaches imagine that she is exhibiting the shape in coaching to doubtlessly problem each the world 800m indoor and out of doors information
After being topped BBC Sports activities Persona of the Yr, Keely Hodgkinson already has eyes on breaking much more information subsequent season.
The 22-year-old, who grew to become Olympic 800m champion and went unbeaten over two laps all 12 months, will make her first look for the reason that summer time at a gathering named the “Keely Klassic”, which takes place in Birmingham on February 15, 2025.
The purpose? To take down take down Jolanda Čeplak’s world indoor 800m file of 1:55.82.
Čeplak, who notably served a doping ban between 2007 and 2009, recorded that mark on March 3, 2002, which was the identical day that Hodgkinson was born.
Instantly after the Paris Olympics, Hodgkinson ended her season – citing a minor hamstring damage – earlier than taking a effectively deserved break.
Keely Hodgkinson (BBC)
The Brit is now again in coaching and final evening swapped her high-altitude camp in Potchefstroom, South Africa, for the purple carpet at Media Metropolis in Salford.
Trevor Painter and Jenny Meadows, who coach Hodgkinson and simply wanting 20 different elite athletes at M11 Observe Membership, additionally gained the BBC Sports activities Persona Coaches of the Yr award.
Meadows, a world and European medallist over 800m herself, believes that something is feasible for the British middle-distance runner over the subsequent couple of years.
“We’ve seen all of the laborious work she’s been doing behind the scenes and I simply know this would be the starting for Keely,” Meadows instructed AW. “She’s bought large ambitions within the sport and he or she gained’t cease till she’s gained no less than one other gold medal at LA 2028. She’ll most likely transcend that as effectively.
“We really feel we now understand how Keely can get each the indoor and out of doors world 800m file. We all know when to push and again off and we’ve additionally trialled some issues in coaching. In fact it at all times depends on consistency. The massive purpose in 2025 can be to win each the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing and World Out of doors Championships in Tokyo. Sounds simple doesn’t it?!”
Jenny Meadows with Trevor Painter and Keely Hodgkinson (Getty)
Meadows additionally states that she thinks Hodgkinson will likely be greatest positioned to interrupt Jarmila Kratochvilova’s world out of doors file of 1:53.28 – the oldest within the athletics books (1983) – in 2026.
“In two years it’s most likely the appropriate time for the out of doors world file,” she added. “Bodily we all know Keely can run a 1:53 however 1:53.28 is one thing fairly totally different. So 1:53 one thing in 2025 and hopefully we will push on sooner or later.”
Hodgkinson’s greatest occasions are 1:54.61 open air and 1:57.18 indoors, with the previous set on the London Diamond League again in July.
Painter echoes Meadows and is delighted that athletics was within the highlight at BBC Sports activities Persona of the Yr.
In taking dwelling the coaches award, the pair now observe within the footsteps of the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson, Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola.
Keely Hodgkinson with coach Trevor Painter (Getty)
“It’s a bit bit worrying that Pep gained it final 12 months and Man Metropolis are on a demise this season,” Painter joked. “However in all seriousness, it’s unbelievable to observe within the footsteps of these names.
“It’s additionally nice to maintain athletics within the public eye actually and the game is so effectively considered within the nation. An Olympic 12 months at all times brings emotive moments and an Olympian usually wins it.”
Meadows added: “Lots of people have been saying ‘certainly you guys are up for this award?’ I don’t suppose you are taking something without any consideration however I undoubtedly had a second after I noticed that Kelly [Holmes] and Jess [Ennis-Hill] had been going backstage.
“I simply nudged Trevor, not even him, to ask if he was okay, simply in case we gained it. I used to be so shocked. It was simply wonderful to see so lots of our athletes and Keely’s household thrilled for us.”
Keely Hodgkinson celebrates with Trevor Painter (Getty)
Nonetheless, The Instances has reported that Painter is aiming to satisfy UK Athletics bosses after being hit with a 62 % pay reduce.
Beforehand, those that coached international medallists within the UK had been paid an annual base charge of £20,000 and obtained a £20,000 bonus for each athlete they guided to the rostrum.
That now stands at £15,000 a 12 months if their athlete wins a gold medal, with no bonus concerned. For silver and bronze medallists the determine is £7500.
UK Athletics additionally suffered an eight per cent reduce to funding forward of LA 2028, regardless of Nice Britain securing 10 observe and area medals on the Paris Olympics – the most important tally in athletics since 1984.
Painter guided three athletes to the Olympic podium – Hodgkinson, Georgia Bell and Lewis Davey – within the French capital.
Trevor Painter and Keely Hodgkinson (Getty)
“Through the years, after I was teaching Jenny, we created a system that was self-sufficient,” Painter instructed AW. “There have been occasions Jenny wasn’t on funding so we needed to do it our personal approach.
“I feel that has set us up in an excellent stance working with Keely. When she was a junior athlete she had no funding and we labored the identical approach at that time as effectively. Her silver medal in Tokyo introduced riches and rewards for Keely and he or she’s now means examined out of it. We take no matter assist we will get from the nationwide governing our bodies however in the end we attempt to be self-sufficient.
Meadows, echoing Painter’s sentiments, added: “We’ve now tried to commercialise M11 Observe Membership and that hopefully offers us the alternatives to work with some companions.
“If the funding is there from the nationwide governing our bodies then nice but when not we will have a look at different sources of revenue. We wish to hold doing what we’re doing and we’re nonetheless in shock after successful this award.”
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