Keely Hodgkinson, MBE – Reigning Olympic 800m champion for Team GB at the Paris 2024 Games.
A British middle-distance runner specialising in the 800 metres, widely regarded as one of the sport’s brightest stars. She burst onto the world stage at just 19, winning silver at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and breaking Dame Kelly Holmes’ long-standing British record with a time of 1:55.88. Since then, she has become a consistent podium finisher, earning silver medals at both the 2022 and 2023 World Championships, and winning gold at the 2022 and 2024 European Championships, as well as two European Indoor titles. In 2024, she achieved her breakthrough moment by winning Olympic gold in Paris with a commanding run and later broke her own British record with a blistering 1:54.61, making her the sixth-fastest woman in history over the distance.
Known for her fierce competitive spirit, Hodgkinson has risen to become a national icon. Off the track, she is also recognised for gracing the covers of Wonderland, Elle and Style. In 2025, she was ranked the sixth most influential woman in the UK on The Independent Women: The Influence List and named to Forbes 30 Under 30 for her impact both in and beyond athletics. A Diamond League champion, BBC Sports Personality of the Year winner, and recently appointed MBE, Keely Hodgkinson is celebrated not just for her athletic brilliance, but for being a modern role model.