{"id":123509,"date":"2026-06-22T07:48:55","date_gmt":"2026-06-22T07:48:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/22\/keely-hodgkinson-issues-statement-after-leaving-track-in-tears\/"},"modified":"2026-06-22T07:48:55","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T07:48:55","slug":"keely-hodgkinson-issues-statement-after-leaving-track-in-tears","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/22\/keely-hodgkinson-issues-statement-after-leaving-track-in-tears\/","title":{"rendered":"Keely Hodgkinson issues statement after leaving track in tears"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_1cf165\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">Keely Hodgkinson was in tears as she walked off the track seconds before she was due to race in the 400m final at the UK Athletics Championships<\/h2>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37328781\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Keely Hodgkinson pulled out at the UK Athletics Championships\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Keely Hodgkinson pulled out at the UK Athletics Championships<cite aria-label=\"Image: Getty\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Getty)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Olympic champion <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/keely-hodgkinson\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">Keely Hodgkinson<\/a> was visibly distressed as she withdrew from the track moments before she was scheduled to compete in the 400m final <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/sport\/other-sports\/athletics\/keely-hodgkinson-uk-championships-relationship-37318937\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">at the British Athletics Championship<\/a>. The 24-year-old has since issued a statement.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Hodgkinson emerged at <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walesonline.co.uk\/sport\/other-sport\/athletics\/keely-hodgkinson-uk-championships-boyfriend-34148545\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">the Alexander Stadium<\/a> alongside the other competitors and took her position in lane nine as she readied herself for the title race, which <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/sport\/keely-hodgkinson-instagram-olympics-record-37285406\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">differs from her customary 800m discipline<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">But it quickly became clear something was amiss as she moved to the edge of the track and appeared distressed while officials surrounded her. She then crouched down as tears streamed and she departed amid worry and dismay amongst onlookers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Subsequently, she released a statement clarifying what had occurred. She said: &#8220;I wasn&#8217;t feeling 100% standing on the start line, so I made the tough decision to step away and not race. I didn&#8217;t want to risk anything ahead of this summer.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MirrorSport#\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">All the best sports news and much more on our dedicated Facebook page<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">On <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/instagram\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">Instagram<\/a>, she wrote: &#8220;Leaving champs healthy!! Sometimes the hard decision is saying no, body wasn&#8217;t feeling 100[%], exciting summer ahead.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37328782\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37328782\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Keely Hodgkinson of Leigh Harriers walks off after withdrawing from the Women's 400 m Final during day two of the UK Athletics Championships\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37328782.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Novuna-UK-Athletics-Championships-Day-Two.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37328782.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_Novuna-UK-Athletics-Championships-Day-Two.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37328782.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_Novuna-UK-Athletics-Championships-Day-Two.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37328782.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Novuna-UK-Athletics-Championships-Day-Two.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"The athlete's coach said she felt a twinge\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">The athlete&#8217;s coach said she felt a twinge<cite aria-label=\"Image: Getty\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Getty)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The commentary team at the <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/bbc\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">BBC<\/a> then relayed that they had received a message from Hodgkinson&#8217;s coach, Jenny Meadows, stating the star withdrew because she &#8220;felt a little twinge in her last strides before the race.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Amber Anning received a second chance after a false start in the 400m final, but it was the world indoor champion who recovered and defended her title, finishing with a time of 50.16 seconds.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Hodgkinson has lately been taking part in 400m competitions in a bid to enhance her pace as she aims for <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/sport\/other-sports\/athletics\/record-breaking-keely-hodgkinson-now-36753653\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">the 800m outdoor world record later this summer<\/a>. In July 1983, Jarmila Kratochvilova set the outdoor record with a time of one minute 53.28 seconds.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;It&#8217;s not an easy feat and there&#8217;s a reason it has stood for so long, &#8221; Hodgkinson told the BBC. &#8220;I think this is the closest I&#8217;ve felt near it. I do really believe that we can break it, but a lot of things have got to come together.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37328783\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37328783\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Keely Hodgkinson of Leigh Harriers competes in the Women's 400m Heats during day one of the UK Athletics Championships at Alexander Stadium\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37328783.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Novuna-UK-Athletics-Championships-Day-One.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37328783.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_Novuna-UK-Athletics-Championships-Day-One.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37328783.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_Novuna-UK-Athletics-Championships-Day-One.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37328783.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Novuna-UK-Athletics-Championships-Day-One.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Hodgkinson has her sights on a world record\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Hodgkinson has her sights on a world record<cite aria-label=\"Image: Getty\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Getty)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;We&#8217;re on the right path and we&#8217;ve seen evidence in training that we think that it&#8217;s possible. I&#8217;ve had my healthiest winter training I&#8217;ve had in years.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;My coach did say two years ago that 2026 will be a good year. I&#8217;ve known for weeks I&#8217;m capable of breaking it. It&#8217;s just a matter of getting out on the day.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;We can push it even further in the future, as long as I stay healthy and I think this is hopefully just the beginning. After winning the Olympics, it really wasn&#8217;t what I thought was going to happen.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/sport\/other-sports\/athletics\/keely-hodgkinson-injury-statement-tears-37328785\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Keely Hodgkinson was in tears as she walked off the track seconds before she was due to race in the 400m final at the UK Athletics Championships Keely Hodgkinson pulled out at the UK Athletics Championships(Image: Getty) Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson was visibly distressed as she withdrew from the track moments before she was scheduled [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":123510,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[3],"tags":[1028,983,460],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123509"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=123509"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123509\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/123510"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=123509"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=123509"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=123509"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}