Keely Hodgkinson ran her fastest-ever 800m time on Sunday, June 7, 2026, with a British record of 1:54.33, but finished second to Audrey Werro's 1:53.98 at the Diamond League in Stockholm.
What happened?
The Olympic champion was back in her favored event after finishing seventh in the 400m in Rome on Thursday, but was stunned into second place by the Swiss runner.
Audrey Werro finished first with a time of one minute 53.98 seconds, the third-fastest women's 800m in history and the quickest in 2026.
Why it matters for Keely Hodgkinson
Hodgkinson and Werro raced away from the field in Stockholm, but the British athlete was unable to keep the pace with her rival despite a British record time.
"It was a quick one, a really interesting race," Hodgkinson said, showing respect to her competitor.
What comes next?
She added: "I can build on this great start, it's still very early, and it's good to have a run in your legs because you can learn what you can do better."
Hodgkinson targets the 800m world record, and this race will motivate her more in training to make sure she doesn't finish second again.
The British athlete made the right decisions, but Audrey Werro was just better on the day, with a time that will be hard to beat.
Other surprises in Stockholm included pole vault star Armand Duplantis suffering a shock loss to Kurtis Marschall after he failed to clear 6.05m on June 7, 2026.
Earlier in the day, there was a personal best for British runner Amy Hunt in the 200m, but she finished second behind world champion Melissa Jefferson-Wooden.
Hodgkinson's next move will be crucial in her bid to become the best 800m runner in the world, and she will have to work hard to beat Werro's time.
The Diamond League in Stockholm was full of surprises, but Keely Hodgkinson's performance was one of the most impressive, despite finishing second.