World record-chasing Keely Hodgkinson insisted she is “healthy” after tearfully withdrawing from the 400 metres final at the UK Athletics Championships with what her coach explained was hamstring tightness.
The Olympic champion has made no secret of her summer ambition to break the one minute, 53.28-second 800m women’s standard set by Czech athlete Jarmila Kratochvilova nearly 43 years ago, identifying next month’s London Diamond League as the ideal time and place.
A visibly emotional Hodgkinson – who was out on track in Birmingham for her pre-race warm-up – sparked concern when she abruptly pulled out but Jenny Meadows, who alongside husband Trevor Painter coaches Hodgkinson, later confirmed a physiotherapist gave the 24-year-old “the all-clear”.
Hodgkinson, speaking immediately after dropping out of the final, said: “I wasn’t feeling 100 per cent standing on the start line, so I made the tough decision to step away and not race.
“I didn’t want to risk anything this summer.”
The world indoor 800m record-holder later wrote on Instagram: “Leaving champs healthy! Sometimes the hard decision is saying no. Body wasn’t feeling 100 per cent, exciting summer ahead!”
Meadows replied to a concerned fan on X, saying “Thankfully it was just a precautionary measure. She’s fine now she’s seen the physio and got the all clear.”
She further explained to another user: “She’s not injured! It was a precaution as her hamstring felt tight. She did her cool down jog, saw the physio and is fine. We don’t take any risks now and neither does Keely.”
Hodgkinson’s training partner Georgia Hunter Bell won the women’s 800m final in a championship-record one minute, 55.93 seconds.
Hodgkinson was laid off for 376 days with injury, much of it hamstring-related, before returning last August to set a world-leading 800m time, then claimed bronze at the 2025 world championships in Tokyo having raced just twice that season before travelling to Japan.
It was a layoff she later described as a “s***show” so her reluctance to risk anything after announcing her London intentions is understandable, particularly after she was beaten by Swiss rival Audrey Werro – who went third on the all-time list in one minute, 53.98 seconds – earlier this month.
Amber Anning ultimately defended her 400m title on a Father’s Day replete with successes for British dads.
Olympic 400m silver-medallist Matthew Hudson-Smith was given an exemption last year so he could support his wife through the challenging birth of their now-healthy daughter Eden.
The local favourite, a Wolves academy product in his youth, reclaimed his title in 44.45secs to secure his place at August’s European Championships at the same venue.
First-time dad Alastair Chalmers, who welcomed a baby boy on Tuesday, was the 400m hurdles champion and 200m champion Zharnel Hughes revealed his agent had texted him before Saturday’s 100m final to say “do this one for your son”.
Scotland’s Jake Wightman, the 2022 world gold and 2025 world silver 1500m medallist, was among Sunday’s other champions, winning the men’s 800m final in 1:45.40 – with his father Geoff on commentary duty in the stadium.
Success Eduan won the women’s 200m in a personal best 22.43 seconds, beating world 200m silver medallist Amy Hunt, who defended her 100m title on Saturday.
Dina Asher-Smith also qualified for the 200m final, but explained it was always her plan only to participate in Sunday’s heat.
