Keely Hodgkinson capped off an up-and-down season by claiming a dominant 800-meter victory at the Athlos event in London. Competing in front of a sold-out crowd at StoneX Stadium, the 24-year-old middle-distance star crossed the finish line in one minute 56.40 seconds.
The gathering marked the third edition of the all-female athletics competition and its first appearance outside of New York. Created by Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, the single-night meet featured seven different disciplines with six athletes competing in each. Winners received a custom silver crown crafted by Tiffany & Co instead of traditional medals, alongside a top cash prize of $65,000 from a total event purse exceeding one million dollars.
Hodgkinson drew considerable attention ahead of the race by revealing a custom-made, full-back black aerodynamic speed suit developed in collaboration with Nike. The innovative garment featured an integrated hood with a ponytail opening, an open back, and color-changing 3D-printed elements designed to minimize aerodynamic drag. Completed with dark sunglasses and carbon-plated spikes, the outfit helped the Olympic champion secure her first triumph since winning the London Diamond League in July.
The victory provided a welcome conclusion to a challenging campaign that included both historic achievements and difficult setbacks. Earlier in the year, Hodgkinson claimed her first world indoor 800-meter title and shattered a long-standing indoor world record. However, momentum slowed following a painful fall in July and a lingering hamstring issue that previously sidelined her for much of 2025. Although she lowered her British national record during the summer, she finished behind Switzerland's Audrey Werro at both the European Championships and the World Athletics Ultimate Championship.
Other notable winners at the London showcase included American sprint stars Sha'Carri Richardson and Gabby Thomas. Richardson secured the 100-meter title with a time of 10.80 seconds, while Thomas closed out the evening by winning the 200-meter event in 22.13 seconds. Additional victories went to Marileidy Paulino in the 400 meters, Alaysha Johnson in the 100-meter hurdles, and Alyssa Jones in the long jump.
In the mile event, Hodgkinson's training partner Georgia Hunter Bell narrowly missed out on victory after being overtaken on the inside by Poland's Klaudia Kazimierska. Kazimierska claimed the win in four minutes 19.43 seconds, thrilling spectators that included Ohanian, tennis legend Serena Williams, and various other celebrities watching from the trackside. Organizers have previously expressed ambitions to eventually expand Athlos into a comprehensive global league spanning a full season.
Reporting based on coverage first published by BBC Sport. Read the original report at BBC Sport.
