So angry at just winning silver
HODGKINSON LOSES OUT TO MU AGAIN
ANNOYED Keely Hodgkinson will put any celebrations on hold after winning 800m silver at the World Athletics Championships, writes Nick Mashiter of PA Sport in Eugene. The 20-year-old ex-Loughborough College student added to her Olympic silver medal after a season’s best of one minute 56.38 seconds in Eugene, Oregon. She was beaten to gold by America’s Olympic champion Athing Mu by 0.08 seconds with Kenya’s Mary Moraa third. After Tokyo, sponsor Barrie Wells treated her to a spin in an Aston Martin – but this time, Hodgkinson only wanted to toast gold.
“I don’t deserve it (the Aston Martin). I have to earn that one,” she said, ahead of running in the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. “This year all I had on my mind was the gold. It definitely shows the expectations I’ve got for myself.
“I’m definitely a little bit annoyed but being on another world podium in my second year of being in the professional world of athletics is something I should be proud of. I’m grateful to be a part of it and grateful to be challenging for gold medals.
“I never thought I’d be doing that aged 20 and with another 20-year-old. I have a lot of respect for her but I’m obviously gutted.
“I came here to win the gold and it didn’t happen.”
Hodgkinson was ahead with 700m to go by 0.03 seconds but Mu rallied in the final 100m and managed to squeeze her British rival out just before the line.
Mu beat Hodgkinson by 0.67 seconds at the Tokyo Olympics last year with the Brit closing the gap this time.
“It shows I have improved from last year,” she said. “That’s what you try to do. Unfortunately, it wasn’t good enough this time but the gap’s closing and hopefully one day I’ll get there.
“I took the shortest route. I sat in, bided my time. I was confident. I don’t think I did anything wrong, it just wasn’t my time.
“We (her and Mu) don’t race each other that much, which I think is a good thing because it builds up the tension of the across-the-pond rivalry.
“I think we can push each other to new heights trying to get on top.”
Hodgkinson’s silver was Great Britain’s seventh medal at the world championships.
The highlight was Loughborough University graduate Jake Wightman’s stunning gold in the men’s 1500m.
Ex-Loughborough College student Matt Hudson-Smith also won bronze in the men’s 400m – and then spoke about his three-year injury nighmare and suicide attempt.
GB’s 4x400m women’s relay team - including former Loughborough University student Jessie Knight – also won bronze in the final event at Hayward Field.