Keely Hodgkinson Withdraws from London Diamond League Meet with Hamstring Issue…

Keely Hodgkinson Withdraws from London Diamond League Meet with Hamstring Issue

 

Keely Hodgkinson, the reigning Olympic 800 m champion, has made the difficult decision to withdraw from the Novuna London Athletics Meet — a Wanda Diamond League event scheduled for July 19 at London Stadium. The 23‑year‑old Briton continues to face hamstring complications stemming from an injury sustained earlier this year, and her team have confirmed that it remains too soon for her to return to competition

Hodgkinson hasn’t raced since triumphing in Paris last August, after which she underwent a comprehensive recovery regimen that included rehabilitation for her hamstring and back . Although she has since resumed full training and expressed strong hopes of competing at the World Championships in Tokyo this September, her management team emphasised that preserving her long-term fitness for global competition takes priority over early-season outings .

In a joint statement, Hodgkinson’s camp expressed disappointment but explained: “The London meet has come slightly too soon in her return to competition. Together with her team, she has made the decision to delay her season opener by a few more weeks to ensure she is fully race-ready.” They underscored that her preparations are now squarely focused on a solid training block leading into a later debut in 2025 .

This setback extends an already interrupted season for Hodgkinson. In February, she was forced to withdraw from the indoor “Keely Klassic”—her own world-record attempt meet—after sustaining a grade 3C hamstring tear during training . That injury, which sidelined her for several months, dashed hopes of challenging Jolanda Čeplak’s longstanding indoor world 800 m record of 1 min 55.82 s. At the time, medical assessments estimated a three-to-six‑week recovery, enough to rule her out of the European and World indoor championships .

Despite those initial estimates, it has taken significantly longer for Hodgkinson to regain full competitive fitness. In May she had hoped to resume outdoor competition at the Stockholm Diamond League meet, but lingering effects meant she ultimately passed on that opportunity . Nonetheless, positive signals emerged soon after: she was officially announced as a star attraction for the London Diamond League and, buoyed by renewed confidence in her recovery, she was aiming to launch her outdoor campaign there .

UK Athletics CEO Jack Buckner voiced strong support for Hodgkinson’s cautious approach, citing the need for a long-term recovery strategy leading into Tokyo and beyond. Buckner also highlighted broader optimism in British athletics, thanks to a new five‑year BBC broadcast deal and sponsorship with Novuna — both of which are helping stabilise finances and ensure stronger exposure for the sport .

Looking ahead, Hodgkinson is expected to return to competition later in July. Her trainers aim to unleash her outdoors at an opportune meet that allows adequate preparation for Tokyo. Achieving peak form at the World Championships — the final major event before the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics — remains her primary ambition.

The London Diamond League will proceed without one of its biggest attractions this July. However, athletes such as Olympic 1500 m bronze medallist Georgia Bell and other British middle‑distance stars will have opportunities to shine on home soil. For Hodgkinson, this measured return is about rebuilding confidence, ensuring health, and setting the stage for her next global gold‑medal quest.