Keely Hodgkinson, who won gold in the women’s 800m at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, was presented with an MBE by the Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle on Tuesday
Keely Hodgkinson graciously extended an offer to provide athletics guidance to Prince William and his children if they ever desired it. The Team GB athlete was bestowed with an MBE by the Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle on Tuesday, a moment she deemed a “real honour.”
Given her recognition for her contributions to athletics, she didn’t hesitate to propose sharing her expertise with the younger royals should they wish to pursue a similar path. Recounting her conversation with Prince William during the ceremony, Hodgkinson told BBC Sport: “He [Prince William] said he remembered me winning last summer, and then my coach said that his kids are into athletics so I said that if he needed any tips he knows where to go.”
The gesture underscores the 23-year-old’s kindness and humility, as she thought of others even on a day dedicated to celebrating her own accomplishments. After joining Leigh Harriers at just nine years old, Hodgkinson clinched numerous county championships in the 800m, 1200m, 1500m, and cross-country events, all while balancing middle-distance running with swimming for the Howe Bridge Aces.
However, she soon committed fully to track events, a decision that has yielded impressive results. Fast-forward to 2025, and Hodgkinson boasts an enviable collection of medals – gold at the European Championships, European Indoor Championships, and Diamond League 800m events, alongside silver medals from the 2022 Commonwealth Games and World Championships in 2022 and 2023, reports Aberdeen Live.
Yet, none of these achievements compares to the ultimate prize: Olympic gold. Hodgkinson claimed the medal at the 2024 Games in Paris. Building on her silver medal in the 800m at Tokyo 2020, she delivered a showstopping performance in the French capital, crossing the finish line in 1:56.72 – a hair’s breadth ahead of Ethiopia’s Tsige Duguma.
Post-race, Hodgkinson said: “Yeah, I was just so focused on getting to that line, and I knew I’d be strong in the last 100m. I knew they’d be coming, I knew they’d be close because they are really talented and great girls, so it’s great to compete with them.
“The stadium was incredible. The crowd was awesome. I felt like it was a home champs for me, so it was just great to experience it.
“So many GB flags, the crowd literally was incredible. And I saw people I knew on every corner, so many friends and family that had come out here, so really special.”
Hodgkinson has been out of the racing scene since her triumphant Olympic victory last year, having suffered a hamstring injury in February during preparations for her Keely Klassic event in Birmingham. Yet, she’s set to make a comeback at the Diamond League meet in Stockholm this June.
The women’s 800m race is expected to be a star-studded affair with all eight of the world’s top-ranked runners lining up, including Duguma, who was narrowly defeated by Hodgkinson for the Olympic gold. Reflecting on her time away from competition, Hodgkinson said: “I feel out of practice in a way, because by the time I do race, it will be 10 months.
“But it’s nothing we haven’t coped with before. It will be a challenge, the first race will be a nerve-wracking one because my last race I literally became Olympic champion. But I’m excited for it.”