Keely Hodgkinson Withdraws from Zurich Diamond League, Focuses on Future Races
Keely Hodgkinson has officially withdrawn from the women's 800 metres event at the upcoming Diamond League meeting in Zurich due to her body not being ready for competition. The Olympic champion announced her decision, stating, "Unfortunately the body isn't quite ready to race again after the European Championships. We've made the decision to skip this race and get ready for the next one. Sad to miss it, hopefully see you next year!" Initially, Hodgkinson was set to compete against Audrey Werro of Switzerland, who recently claimed gold at the European Championships in Birmingham earlier this month. This race will still showcase notable athletes, including: Femke Bol, the world 400m hurdles champion, who is stepping up to the 800m this season. Georgia Hunter-Bell, Hodgkinson’s training partner and recent gold medalist at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Additionally, Lilian Odira, the world 800m champion from Kenya, has pulled out of the race due to ongoing illness and weakness since the Commonwealth Games. Hodgkinson had previously opted out of the Commonwealth Games to prioritize her performance at the European Championships, following struggles with hamstring and knee injuries. Earlier this month, she expressed her eagerness to compete against the best, saying she wanted to be in the mix with top athletes. The Zurich meet marks the penultimate event of the Diamond League season, with the final scheduled for Brussels on September 4 and 5.
Source: BBC Sport - 2026-08-24