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William, the Prince of Wales, took on the duties of honouring 2024 Olympic gold medallist Keely Hodgkinson as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).
Hodgkinson said that it was really nice to be honoured by William on Tuesday. “The whole experience was amazing.”
William’s daughter, Princess Charlotte, competes in the 400-metre sprint. The prince told Hodgkinson that Charlotte watched the Hodgkinsons win in Paris. The honour was bestowed at Windsor Castle.
Three Olympic 800m champions. One historic moment. đź‘‘đź‘‘đź‘‘
— Great Run (@Great_Run) May 18, 2025
Keely Hodgkinson MBE, Dame Kelly Holmes & Ann Packer: the only British women to ever win 800m Olympic Gold – together for the first time. 🥇
They’ve inspired generations, and each other. Today, they make history again. pic.twitter.com/ITdVI3CB15
Hodgkinson said she will compete in the Stockholm Diamond League meet next month. It will be her first race since winning Olympic gold.
She had a hamstring injury in February.
“Currently, I feel really good, we are in a really good place.
“We’re kind of on track. I’m still four or five weeks away from opening my season, but I’m looking forward to it, and it’s a big race, it’s basically an Olympic final again.”
Hodgkinson currently holds the British record in the 800m event, having run 1:54.61 in July at home in London last year. She also holds the British 800m indoor record at 1:57.18 as well as the 600m indoor and outdoor record (known best time) at 1:23.41 set in 2023.
Hodgkinson finished second in a number of global meets before finally taking gold in Paris. At age 19, she finished second to American Athing Mu at the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games. In successive World Athletics Championships, she took second in Eugene and Budapest. During the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, she again finished second, wondering if she was going to live out the once-a-bridesmaid, always a bridesmaid’s aphorism.
She did, however, win gold in the European Championships in 2021 and 2023.
There has been talk of her going after the world record. Jarmila KratochvĂlová of the former Czechoslovakia set the current world record at 1:53.28 in 1983. The record has long been eyed with scrutiny over allegations of performance-enhancing drugs.
