The European Athletics Championships are taking place this week in Birmingham, featuring numerous Olympic and world champions across multiple events. However, the women’s 800m final on Friday night has emerged as the most anticipated competition, drawing significant attention due to the caliber of competitors involved.
Keely Hodgkinson, the reigning Paris Olympic champion in the 800m with 11 major championship medals to her name, has described the race as the “race of the championships.” Her primary challenger is Audrey Werro, a 22-year-old Swiss runner who has posted the third, fourth, and ninth fastest times in the event’s history during the current season. Additionally, Femke Broeders-Bol, a former world champion in the 400m hurdles who recently transitioned to the 800m, presents an unpredictable element to the competition.
Recent form provides some insight into the competitive dynamic. At the Stockholm Diamond League in early June, Werro defeated Hodgkinson in a close finish, clocking 1min 53.98sec to take the victory. Hodgkinson ran 1:54:33, a personal best, but many observers suggested she made tactical errors by racing too early. Hodgkinson has since reflected on the loss, emphasizing that her time represented a British record and her fastest-ever performance, and noting that she did not fully understand Werro’s capabilities at that point.
Hodgkinson recently recovered from a knee injury sustained in late June after tripping on a metal grate but reports being in good condition heading into the championships. She has acknowledged the growth of public interest in her performances, noting that increased attention on social media can sometimes be frustrating, though she remains focused on her training and racing strategy. With championship experience as a potential advantage over her rivals, Hodgkinson indicated her approach will emphasize racing with courage and fearlessness rather than overthinking tactical execution.
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