Keely Hodgkinson delivered a dominant performance to win the 800-metre title at the inaugural London edition of the all-women’s Athlos event. The British Olympic champion clocked one minute 56.40 seconds at StoneX Stadium, finishing more than two seconds ahead of the field. Beyond her speed, the 24-year-old drew attention for her unique attire—a black, hooded speedsuit paired with dark glasses—which she noted was a long-term project with Nike.
The victory was particularly notable given Hodgkinson’s recent physical challenges. She revealed that she sustained a hamstring tear during the European Championships in Birmingham. An MRI taken last season identified a rare split hamstring tendon, a condition that allows her to continue racing despite injury but carries an increased risk of recurrence. Despite these concerns, she showed no physical limitations on the track.
Reflecting on the event, which brought the Athlos series to London for the first time after two prior meetings in New York, Hodgkinson praised the inclusive and celebratory atmosphere. She remarked that she would have greatly valued such an opportunity during her younger years, emphasizing that sport should remain focused on enjoyment.
Athlos, founded by Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, aims to elevate women’s athletics through a combination of high prize money, athlete ownership, and an entertainment-driven format. The London event featured unique elements such as individual athlete walkouts, a raised stage for the long jump, and winners receiving custom Tiffany & Co. crowns. Ohanian watched the proceedings alongside his wife, tennis icon Serena Williams.
While athletes faced challenging conditions including 17 Celsius temperatures and late-season fatigue, the competition remained fierce. In the women’s mile, Poland’s Klaudia Kazimierska edged out Britain’s Georgia Hunter Bell with a time of 4:19.43. Ohanian highlighted the excitement of the finish, noting how Kazimierska overcame Hunter Bell’s tactical control.
Other notable winners included Sha’Carri Richardson, who clocked 10.80 seconds in the 100m. Richardson noted that the success of the London event signals the growing global reach of the series. The competition was highly streamlined, featuring seven disciplines with straight finals and no qualifying rounds.
The financial incentives were significant, with winners receiving $65,000 and prize money awarded down to sixth place. American long jumper Alyssa Jones, who claimed victory with a 6.66m leap, expressed relief at the payout, citing her recent graduation and financial constraints. Furthermore, a $250,000 bonus was available for any world record broken, though none were threatened on the day.
Rounding out the list of victors were Gabby Thomas, who won the 200m in 22.13, and Alaysha Johnson, who took the 100m hurdles in 12.50. Additionally, Marileido Paulino of the Dominican Republic secured the 400m title in 48.73, completing a day of high-profile track and field action. The report also notes that shrugging off hamstring concerns to win the 800 metres at the all-women’s Athlos London 2026 while dressed in a black, hooded speedsuit that made her look more superwoman than middle-distance runner, keely Hodgkinson ended a rocky season in fine fashion. The report also notes that britain’s Olympic champion pulled away from the field over the final 200 metres to clock one minute 56.40 seconds and win by more than two seconds at StoneX Stadium, marking the first Athlos event outside the US after two New York meetings.
Comments