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Typically when athletic events are named after a person, it is to honour their passing and the life they lived. But, you know you have made it when they name an event after you while you remain alive. Not only is Keely Hodgkinson of Great Britain alive, but she may not have reached her athletic peak yet. In fact, she is the star attraction of the Keely Klassic athletics meet happening Saturday, February 15 in Birmingham, UK.
There will be a number of record attempts.

Hodgkinson, the BBC Sports Personality of the Year for 2024 and Paris Olympic champion will attempt the world short track (indoor) 800-metre record at the event.
The current short track 800m record is held by Slovenian, Jolanda Čeplak, at 1:55.82. The time was set on the day Hodgkinson was born on March 3 2002 in the unlikely place of Ferry-Dusika-Halle, Wien, Austria.
Hodgkinson’s personal best times are 1:54.61 outdoors and 1:57.18 short track (indoors). Hodgkinson set the outdoor best in London in July 2024. The short track performance was set in Utilita Arena Birmingham, Birmingham in Feb. 2023.
The 22-year-old does not turn 23 until March 2025.
Other record attempts
Jake Wightman will be looking for the short track 1000m record. The 2022 world 1500m champion held the record at 2:17.51. Charlie Da’Vall Grice bettered it in 2021 at the Brighton Phoenix athlete clocking 2:17.20. He has run nearly four seconds faster outdoors going 2:13.88 during the Monaco Diamond League meet in Aug. 2022.
Georgia Bell will be going after the short track 1500m time of 4:03.22, which she set in 2024 at the meet in Sätrahallen, Stockholm, Sweden.
“We want to make this event an experience like no other for athletes and fans alike,” said Hodgkinson. “We are creating an atmosphere that fuses the intensity of world-class sport with the energy and excitement of live entertainment. I can’t wait to be part of this new chapter, and I’m excited for fans to witness history in the making.”