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Keely Hodgkinson, who grabbed the Olympic 800m gold medal, has been named BBC Sports Personality of the Year for 2024. The 22-year old made her breakthrough by winning the title at the Paris 2024 Olympics after securing successive World Championship silvers, in addition to a runner-up finish on her Olympic debut in Tokyo three years ago. She also kept her European 800m title in Rome and became the sixth-fastest woman of all time when she broke her British record to one minute 54.61 seconds at the London Diamond League.
As per Hodgkinson, 2024 has been an incredible year and she accomplished every aim that she had in regard to the outdoor track. She stated that she was excited for her coach, and was in shock. Darts player Luke Littler secured the second place, while the third place was bagged by England cricketer Joe Root. A group of experts shortlisted Sarah Storey, Alex Yee, and Jude Bellingham for the accolade, and the winner was chosen by a public vote.
In a remarkable year, Hodgkinson was unbeaten over 800m and won Olympic gold, a title she was determined to achieve following a series of close calls and a near-miss. She triumphed in an impressive manner in Paris, taking the first Olympic track title for Team GB since Mo Farah’s 5,000m and 10,000m double at Rio 2016, after retaining the European title, her first major outdoor championship, in 2022.
When she made her breakthrough by winning Olympic silver in Tokyo, Hodgkinson was a little-known teen, but she rapidly rose to become one of the world’s best while competing fiercely with rivals Athing Mu and Mary Moraa for the sport’s most coveted prizes. In her pursuit of becoming one of Britain’s most decorated athletes, Hodgkinson has remained resolute in her determination to reach the next level on the podium. With her improved British record set at the London Diamond League in July, having run 1:53.28, one of athletics’ longest-standing records set by Czech athlete Jarmila Kratochvilova in 1983, could be within Hodgkinson’s reach.
As a new Olympic cycle begins, next year, Hodgkinson will have additional opportunities for glory with indoor and outdoor World Championships to aim for. Hodgkinson’s coaches, Trevor Painter and Jenny Meadows, were also acknowledged with the Coach of the Year award for their guidance. This is the fourth consecutive instance of a woman receiving the award, following Mary Earps (2023), Beth Mead (2022), and Emma Raducanu (2021)
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