Werro claims European title in Birmingham
Keely Hodgkinson, the British Olympic champion, secured a silver medal in the women’s 800m at the European Athletics Championship in Birmingham. The race saw Audrey Werro of Switzerland claim the gold, ending Hodgkinson’s bid for a third consecutive European 800m title.
Hodgkinson, who had previously won gold in Munich 2022, initially started strong but was overtaken by Werro on the back straight. Werro maintained her lead, crossing the finish line in a championship record time of 1:54.81. Hodgkinson finished with a time of 1:55.01, while the Netherlands’ Femke Broeders-Bol earned bronze with a national record of 1:55.54.
The final in Birmingham marked a significant moment, with Werro’s victory establishing a new championship record that had stood since 1982. This performance by Werro follows her impressive improvement, including a personal best of 1:53.80 in Paris, which is more than half a second faster than Hodgkinson’s best time.
Hodgkinson reflects on competitive race
Following the race, Hodgkinson expressed mixed emotions, acknowledging that any medal at this level of competition is an achievement. She stated that she believed she would win and felt she had done nothing wrong, attributing the outcome to the nature of competitive racing.
Hodgkinson welcomed the strong competition, noting that it brings out her best. She highlighted the unpredictability of championship races, where athletes can have good or bad days. Despite not achieving the gold she aimed for, she expressed pride in her battle and looked forward to future matchups.
The British athlete has consistently been a strong contender, securing silver at three consecutive global championships before her Olympic gold in Paris. Her career has seen captivating battles with rivals such as Athing Mu and Mary Moraa, and now Werro and Broeders-Bol are emerging as new challenges.
Hodgkinson’s indoor season earlier this year included breaking the 24-year indoor world 800m record and winning her first world title. However, her outdoor season has presented challenges, including a muscle “twinge” that led to her withdrawal from the 400m final at the British Championships. She also competed with bandaged knees after a fall in training, finishing behind Lilian Odira in Eugene.
A return to winning ways at the London Diamond League, where she held off world-champion hurdler Broeders-Bol, helped rebuild her confidence. Hodgkinson had forgone the Commonwealth Games to focus on her European title defence.
Emergence of new rivals
The emergence of Audrey Werro, a Swiss athlete, signals a new era of competition in the 800m event. Werro’s performance in Birmingham, where she held off Hodgkinson, demonstrated her readiness to challenge for top honours.
Werro’s journey to gold included overcoming a fall in her semi-final, from which she recovered to be reinstated in the competition. Her ability to maintain composure and execute a strong finish against Hodgkinson highlighted her maturity and potential in the sport.
Former marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe commented on Werro’s performance, noting her ability to manage pressure and take control of the race. Werro herself expressed aspirations to become faster in the coming year.
The competitive landscape of the 800m event is also shaped by other athletes such as world 800m champion Lilian Odira and Hodgkinson’s training partner Georgia Hunter Bell. These athletes are expected to be key players in future global showdowns, including the upcoming World Championships in Beijing and the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
The world record in the 800m, set by Jarmila Kratochvilova in 1983 with a time of 1:53.28, remains the longest-standing record in athletics. The recent performances by Werro and Hodgkinson suggest a strong competitive field that could challenge this long-standing mark in the future.
Source: bbc.co.uk
