Keely Hodgkinson has set herself the goal of breaking the women’s 800m world record, which has stood for more than four decades.
The 22-year-old won gold at this distance at the Olympic Games in Paris and now wants to break one of the oldest world records on the track.
In July 1983, Czech athlete Jarmila Kratochvilova ran a record time of one minute and 53.28 seconds in the 800 meters at the Olympic Stadium in Munich.
Hodgkinson’s winning time in Paris was 1:56.72, but her confidence has grown since she set a time of 1:54.61 in London in July.
Speaking at a special ‘Team GB’s Homecoming’ event at the AO Arena in Manchester, Hodgkinson said: “It’s definitely something I’ve been thinking about since racing in London.
“I think that record has stood for so long. It’s been a long time since anyone [one minute and] 53 seconds, so I would like to do that. I think I can do it. I believe now that I can.”
Can bronze medalist Bell play full-time?
Georgia Bell, a bronze medalist in the 1500 meters at the Olympics, says she still isn’t sure if she wants to become a full-time athlete.
The 30-year-old only started running again three years ago after losing interest in the sport.
Bell still works for a cybersecurity software company in London.
“I took a break this summer to focus on the Olympics and the plan is to go back in September,” she said.
“Work has been super supportive and we’ll see what happens. I think it’s going to be really hard to balance both. So it’s something I’m going to think about.”
Toby Roberts became the first Briton to win an Olympic medal in sport climbing after impressively winning gold in the bouldering and lead climbing events in Paris.
The 19-year-old said events since then have been “a bit of a blur” and it still “feels surreal to have this medal around my neck now”.
He added: “I’ve always seen myself as a climber who loves to compete. To be among all these great athletes in this environment really feels like a dream.”
The National Lottery’s Team GB Homecoming airs on BBC One on Sunday 18th August at 20:30 BST. It will be available to watch the following day on BBC iPlayer.
