Hodgkinson aims to reclaim European 800m crown amid rising rivals in Birmingham
Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson will try to secure a third straight European 800m title in Birmingham, facing strong competition from Audrey Werro and others.
Keely Hodgkinson, the reigning Olympic 800m champion, is set to defend her European title in Birmingham, seeking a third consecutive win. Her 2026 season featured a breakthrough indoor world record, a world championship victory and an improved British outdoor record, yet she finished second to Audrey Werro at the Stockholm Diamond League. A muscle twinge forced her out of the British Championships 400m final, and she raced with heavily bandaged knees after a training fall in Eugene, where she placed second to Lilian Odira.
The field also includes Femke Broeders-Bol, the Dutch hurdling champion who has switched to the 800m this year. Hodgkinson recently beat Broeders-Bol at the London Diamond League and has been fine-tuning her form in Portugal. She says a gold medal on home soil would be as meaningful as her Olympic triumph, and a podium finish would mark her 12th international medal in six seasons.
Why it matters
The race will determine if Hodgkinson can maintain her dominance in European middle-distance running.
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