Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson has set her sights on the sport’s longest‑standing outdoor record when the London Diamond League returns in July. She shattered the 24‑year‑old indoor mark in February, running 1:54.87 in Liévin, and now eyes the 43‑year‑old benchmark of Czech legend Jarmila Kratochvilova. The British star believes the home crowd could provide the extra edge needed for a historic run.

Coach Trevor Painter and former champion Jenny Meadows say a “perfect storm” of pacing, weather and peak fitness is essential to dip below 1:53.28, Kratochvilova’s record time. Hodgkinson admits the decision will be a collective one, noting she has missed no training sessions and feels “in a really good place.” She added that the thrill of competing in London fuels her ambition.

The controversial Enhanced Games, promising $1m for a world‑record, recently staged in Las Vegas, sparked debate about clean sport. Hodgkinson dismissed the event as “nonsense,” praising World Athletics’ integrity work and expressing confidence in her rivals. With the Diamond League just weeks away, she plans to chase the record on British soil, turning ambition into a definitely tangible target.