Targeting fifth European title at home
Birmingham-born athlete Keely Hodgkinson will aim to secure a third consecutive outdoor European 800m championship crown when she competes in Birmingham. The Briton, who is currently preparing for the event following a challenging indoor season and a tough race against Swiss rival Audrey Werro, says a home win would be as significant as her Olympic gold.
Hodgkinson has been impressive this year, including breaking the 800m world record indoors. However, she finished second to Werro in Stockholm despite setting a British record. She also competed with heavily bandaged knees after suffering a nasty fall during training.
Home crowd impact
Said Hodgkinson: 'Achieving gold in the United Kingdom would be incredibly special and mean as much to me as winning Olympic gold.' This is expected to create an electric atmosphere at the event, with Hodgkinson saying it could bring out her best performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What challenges does Keely Hodgkinson face in Birmingham?
Hodgkinson's main rivals include Audrey Werro and Femke Broeders-Bol. Though she had a sub-1:54 at the Stockholm Diamond League, Werro has since run even faster while Broeders-Bol boasts impressive championship experience.
How important is it for Hodgkinson to win in front of home support?
According to reporting by BBC Sport - Top Stories, winning on home soil would be exceptionally meaningful and equal to her Olympic gold medal success. She added, 'It will be the race of the championship. It's going to be really fun.'