It hasn’t been the easiest year for Keely Hodgkinson.
Since her gold medal triumph at the Paris Olympics last summer, the British 800m star has endured one of the toughest periods of her career, battling to overcome a string of injuries and get back to action in time for the World Athletics Championships this year.
“I’ve had to be patient and I’m not a patient person,” she admitted ahead of the Wanda Diamond League meeting in Lausanne this week.
Yet if the past few days are anything to go by, Hodgkinson’s patience is now paying off in spades.
In Silesia last weekend, she clocked an astonishing world lead of 1:54.74 in her first race since the Olympics.
On Wednesday, she continued her breathtaking return to form with yet another dominant performance at Athletissima Lausanne.
On a night when many Olympic champions struggled to deal with the conditions, Hodgkinson let the rain bounce off her as she stormed to another statement victory.
As she crossed the line, the Wanda Diamond League Official Timekeeper OMEGA clocked her at 1:55.69, a new meeting record.
It wasn’t just any meeting record, meanwhile, but one which 800m legend Maria Mutola had previously held for 23 years.
For Hodgkinson, it was yet more proof that she is back to her very best ahead of Tokyo.
“When the pace goes like that, you just forget about everyone else: and it paid off with a solid performance. I couldn´t have asked for a better start this season,” she said.
