British middle-distance runner Keely Hodgkinson has set her sights on breaking the women's 800 metres world record at the 2026 European Athletics Championships, which will be held in Birmingham, England, from August 10 to 16, 2026.
Hodgkinson, the reigning Olympic and European champion, has stated that the home crowd at Alexander Stadium could provide the perfect platform to challenge Jarmila Kratochvílová's long-standing world record of 1:53.28, set in 1983. The 24-year-old has consistently improved her personal best, running 1:54.61 at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
In a recent interview, Hodgkinson expressed confidence in her preparation, noting that the support of a home crowd and favorable conditions could be key factors. She has been training under coach Trevor Painter and is focusing on endurance and speed to close the gap to the world record.
The 2026 European Championships mark a return to Birmingham, which last hosted the event in 2022. Hodgkinson won gold there in 2022 and is eager to replicate that success while chasing history.
