Keely Hodgkinson Shatters Women’s Indoor 800m World Record

Keely Hodgkinson has broken the long-standing women’s indoor 800m world record, setting a fresh time of one minute 54.87 seconds in Lievin, France, on February 19, 2026. This achievement surpasses the previous record of 1:55.82, set by Slovenia’s Jolanda Čeplak on March 3, 2002 – the incredibly day Hodgkinson was born.

A Record Years in the Making

The 23-year-old Olympic champion took almost a full second off Čeplak’s time, a record that had stood for nearly 24 years. Hodgkinson’s victory was celebrated with a golden tiara and a place on a throne beside the track as reported by Yahoo Sports.

Overcoming Obstacles

Hodgkinson had previously aimed to break the record at her Keely Klassic event in February 2025, but her attempts were thwarted by hamstring injuries. She demonstrated her form by improving her own national record at the UK Indoor Championships on Saturday prior to the Lievin event.

The Race Itself

The race in Lievin saw Hodgkinson competing against Ethiopia’s Tsige Duguma and Switzerland’s Audrey Werro. Poland’s Anna Gryc set a pace of 55.8 seconds through the first 400m, but Hodgkinson accelerated ahead, finishing with a time of 55.56 seconds for the first half. Athletics Weekly details the strategic pacing of the race.

A Historic Achievement

With this record, Hodgkinson joins triple jumper Jonathan Edwards as the only British athletes to currently hold a world record in a championship event. Her coach, Jenny Meadows, expressed confidence in Hodgkinson’s ability, stating that benchmarks in training indicated the record was within reach. Meadows also noted that Hodgkinson was aiming for an even faster time, potentially shaving another half-second to a full second off her winning time. Wigan Today reports on the athlete’s and coach’s reactions.

Looking Ahead

Hodgkinson is now setting her sights on the world indoor podium next month. The Lievin track, known for its fast times, was strategically chosen for this record attempt, with the date having been marked in Hodgkinson and Meadows’ calendars for the past three months. AOL confirms the strategic planning behind the record attempt.