Keely Hodgkinson Faces Tough Competition

Keely Hodgkinson, the Olympic champion, was beaten by Charlotte Henrich in the 400m heat at the UK Athletics Championships on 20 June.

What happened?

Hodgkinson, who had switched to the 400m discipline to sharpen her speed, was lined up against Henrich, a 19-year-old Welsh 400m star.

Henrich deleted her Instagram account to avoid seeing predictions and news reports about the race, which helped her stay focused.

She ran an impressive 50.58s in the finals, smashing a 44-year Welsh record in the 400m.

Why it matters for Keely Hodgkinson

Hodgkinson's withdrawal from the finals was due to injury concerns, as she felt a twinge in her last strides before the race.

Her coach, Jenny Meadows, informed the BBC commentary team about the decision to pull out.

Hodgkinson later posted on Instagram, saying she was leaving the championships healthy and looking forward to an exciting summer ahead.

What comes next?

Hodgkinson is expected to compete in the Eugene Diamond League in Oregon on 4 July, where she will pursue her goal of breaking Jarmila Kratochvilova's women's 800m record.

She had previously won the 800m gold at Paris 2024 and the world indoor title earlier this year.

Hodgkinson's focus on the 800m discipline is likely to continue, with her sights set on shattering the outdoor women's world record.

The UK Athletics Championships saw Henrich claim the title in 50.16 seconds, with Hodgkinson not participating in the finals.

Hodgkinson's decision to withdraw was a precautionary measure to avoid risking her health ahead of the summer season.

She will look to regain her form and compete at the highest level in the upcoming events, starting with the Eugene Diamond League.