keely hodgkinson breekt wereldrecord dat op haar geboortedag werd gezet

2026-02-20 sport

Lievin, vrijdag, 20 februari 2026.
De Britse atlete Keely Hodgkinson heeft het 23 jaar oude wereldrecord op de indoor 800 meter verbroken. Ze liep 1:54,87 in Lievin, Frankrijk. Dat is bijna een volle seconde onder het oude record. Wat maakt het extra bijzonder? Het record stond sinds 3 maart 2002 – precies de dag waarop Hodgkinson geboren werd. Na jaren van toewerken voelde ze opluchting en pure vreugde. “Dat was echt leuk”, zei ze nadien. Haar prestatie staat los van twijfel rond het vorige record, dat werd gesprokkeld door Jolanda Ceplak. Hodgkinson benadrukte dat ze er klaar voor was. Nu richt ze zich op de WK indoor in Polen.

historic breakthrough in liévin

British athlete Keely Hodgkinson shattered the 23-year-old indoor 800-meter world record with a time of 1:54.87 during the Meeting Hauts-de-France in Liévin, France [1]. This performance improves upon the previous record of 1:55.82 set by Slovenia’s Jolanda Ceplak on 3 March 2002 [4]. The significance is amplified by the fact that Hodgkinson was born on the very day Ceplak established the prior benchmark [1]. Her achievement marks a definitive shift in middle-distance dominance.

a record long pursued

Hodgkinson had openly expressed confidence in challenging the longstanding record following a strong preparatory race at the British Championships [1]. Despite setbacks including a hamstring injury before a planned attempt in Birmingham and subsequent physical strain after receiving an MBE, she entered the Liévin meet in peak condition [1]. At the start of the race, determination was evident. She covered the first 400 meters in approximately 55.56 seconds, positioning herself perfectly for the historic effort ahead [1].

execution under pressure

During the race, Hodgkinson maintained rigorous pacing, reaching the 600-meter mark in 1:25.06 [1]. Facing elite competitors such as Ethiopian Olympic silver medallist Tsige Duguma and Swiss champion Audrey Werro, she held composure [1]. Over the final 200 meters, her form remained intact despite mounting fatigue. The clock stopped at 1:54.87—a margin of 1.55.82 - 1.54.87 = 0.95 seconds faster than the former standard [4]. This improvement cements her place among track and field legends.

legacy beyond the stopwatch

The previous record carried controversy due to Ceplak testing positive for erythropoietin (EPO) in later years, although she denied intentional doping [4]. Hodgkinson’s clean performance removes lingering doubts surrounding the mark [4]. After crossing the finish line, she described the experience as ‘really fun’ and expressed deep satisfaction at achieving a long-held ambition [1]. At age 23, this victory adds to her accolades, which already include Olympic and world championship medals [1].

eyes on toruń

With momentum building, Hodgkinson sets her sights on the upcoming World Athletics Indoor Championships in Toruń, Poland, scheduled for late March 2026 [4]. Having broken the record just weeks before, she enters as a top favorite [4]. Her recent dominance—winning 11 of her past 12 800-meter races—signals sustained excellence [4]. The athletic community anticipates further performances as she continues shaping her legacy on the international stage.

Bronnen

wereldrecord atletiek