Home » Keely Hodgkinson wins Britain’s first athletics gold at Paris Olympics with victory in 800m

Keely Hodgkinson wins Britain’s first athletics gold at Paris Olympics with victory in 800m

Keely Hodgkinson wins Britain’s first athletics gold at Paris Olympics with victory in 800m

Keely Hodgkinson, one of Team GB’s hot favourites for gold, has become Olympic champion in the women’s 800m final.

The 22-year-old went into the games with a world-leading time for this year – and fulfilled that promise to take Britain’s first athletics Olympic gold for eight years.

She finished in 1:56.72, ahead of Ethiopia’s Tsige Duguma and Kenya’s Mary Moraa.

Hodgkinson was confident and in control from the start and comfortably held her lead down the final straight.

Image:
Pic: PA

The athlete had been focused on the top step of the podium after coming second in Tokyo three years ago and recently setting a new national record.

Her 800m success comes 20 years after fellow British runner Dame Kelly Holmes won gold in the same distance in Athens.

There was more Team GB glory on Monday evening as the women’s cycling sprint trio broke the world record three times on their way to gold in the velodrome.

More on Paris 2024 Olympics

It followed a silver and bronze for Joe Clarke and Kimberley Woods in the kayak cross earlier in the day, and a bronze in the mixed triathlon relay.

However there was heartbreak for pole vaulter Molly Caudery, the world indoor champion, who failed to make the final.

Great Britain's Katy Marchant, Emma Finucane and Sophie Capewell celebrate with their gold medals won in the Women's Team Sprint finals
Image:
Katy Marchant, Emma Finucane and Sophie Capewell won team sprint gold

US gymnastics superstar Simone Biles also claimed more medals on Monday – but unusually they weren’t gold.

She won a silver in the floor final after landing outside the area twice, and finished fifth in the beam after an uncharacteristic fall.

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.

Please refresh the page for the fullest version.

You can receive Breaking News alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News App. You can also follow @SkyNews on X or subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.