Keely Hodgkinson, the reigning Olympic 800 meters champion, will be unable to wear the Nike speed suit she recently debuted at the Athlos meet in North London during the upcoming LA 2028 Olympics. The decision stems from a sponsorship conflict, as British Athletics is officially partnered with Adidas, a rival to Nike.

Hodgkinson, 24, introduced the distinctive “catsuit” at the season finale event last Friday and has expressed confidence that the outfit will become a popular choice among athletes seeking a competitive edge. Alongside her training partner Georgia Hunter Bell, 32, she anticipates the suit setting a new trend within track and field apparel.

However, despite the potential approval of the suit by World Athletics, British athletes will be restricted from wearing the full Nike kit during major international competitions such as the Olympics and the World Championships. While competitors are permitted to wear individual technical items like spikes or shoes from different manufacturers, the complete official kit used on the Olympic stage must be supplied by Adidas as per UK Athletics’ existing agreements.

UK Athletics clarified that the suit worn by Hodgkinson was designed exclusively for her and is not affiliated with their sponsorship deal with Nike. Consequently, the 24-year-old will also be barred from wearing the speed suit at next year’s World Championships in Beijing.

The sponsorship arrangement underscores the complexities athletes face when balancing individual preferences with national team requirements in global competitions. Hodgkinson remains set to defend her Olympic title in 2028, albeit without the opportunity to sport the Nike speed suit on the world stage.