Keely Hodgkinson sustained significant knee injuries last week after a heavy fall during training, raising concerns about her ability to challenge the longstanding 800 metres world record at the upcoming meet in London. The 24-year-old Olympic champion revealed that the injuries left her unable to walk for several days, complicating preparations just ahead of a high-profile competition.

Hodgkinson, who recently finished second to world champion Lilian Odira at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon, clocked a time of 1:56.73—0.54 seconds slower than the Kenyan athlete. She described her performance at the Diamond League event as "shocking," attributing it in part to the physical setbacks endured days before the race.

The injury occurred during a cooldown session shortly before Hodgkinson traveled to the United States, resulting in deep cuts and swelling around her knees. Despite the pain and mobility challenges, she managed to compete, though she acknowledged that had the race been held earlier she might have been unable to start.

Looking ahead to the race scheduled in 12 days at the London Stadium in Stratford, where a crowd of approximately 50,000 is expected, Hodgkinson remains focused on breaking the 43-year-old world record of 1:53.28 set by Jarmila Kratochvilova in Munich in 1983. She expressed cautious optimism about her recovery, emphasizing both the physical and emotional difficulties of recent days.

"Four days ago I couldn’t even walk," Hodgkinson said, noting that her knees remain taped to manage swelling and discomfort. "You’re surprised what you need your knees for—bending down, standing up." She elaborated that despite feeling fit overall, the injury has inevitably affected her performance, especially when competing against top-tier athletes.

Hodgkinson acknowledged the challenge of overcoming the setback but remained hopeful about improving her form in London. "Any little thing is not really ideal," she noted, "but it is what it is. Hopefully, I can do a little bit better in London."