Keely Hodgkinson dominates women’s 800m final at Paris 2024 to land first Olympic gold medal

Team GB's Keely Hodgkinson dominated the women's 800m final at Paris 2024 to claim the first Olympic gold medal of her career. The 22-year-old hit the front early and kept her rivals at bay, sprinting to the line for a winning time of 1:56.72. In the closing stages, Ethiopia’s Tsige Duguma came through for silver, meaning Kenya’s Mary Moraa had to settle for bronze.

Great Britain’s Keely Hodgkinson won the women’s 800m final to finally capture gold at a global event.

Hodgkinson, 22, had to settle for silver at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and again at the 2022 and 2023 World Championships, but would not be denied this time as she beat Ethiopia’s Tsige Duguma and Kenya’s Mary Moraa to the title in Paris.

She said she was sick of finishing second ahead of the 2024 Games and ensured this was her time with a controlled run, stopping the clock at 1:56.72.

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"It’s something I’ve dreamed of, it hasn’t sunk in yet," Hodgkinson told Eurosport. "I’ve worked so hard for this, the crowd was incredible, it felt like a home Olympics for me, there were so many Brits in the stadium cheering me on. To celebrate that moment with all of them means so much."

Runners jostled for position when the gun went off, but just as she did in the semi-finals, Hodgkinson forced her way to the front and dictated proceedings from there.

A first 400m completed in a little over 58 seconds was slower than anticipated and raised fears the Brit might be passed in the second lap.

Hodgkinson admits 'it hasn't sunk in yet' but she's going to 'enjoy tonight'

Video credit: TNT Sports

Moraa was on her shoulder for the majority of the race and was expected to challenge in the sprint finish, but she could not live with the pace of Hodgkinson and had to hang on for bronze.

As the line and her dreams came into view on the closing straight, Hodgkinson found another gear to pull away from her rivals and underline her position at the helm of the sport.

Overjoyed Hodgkinson rings winner's bell after glorious 800m gold

Video credit: TNT Sports

In taking GB's 12th gold medal of Paris 2024, she is now just the 10th British woman to win an Olympic title on the track, joining the likes of Denise Lewis and Jessica Ennis-Hill.

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