Keely Hodgkinson primed to become Britain’s ‘next world-class athlete’ after 800m win

Christian Malcolm has backed Keely Hodgkinson to become Britain’s next ‘world-class’ athlete after her breakthrough gold medal at the European Indoor Championships.

In the space of a couple of months Hodgkinson, who only turned 19 last week, has smashed the world Under-20 record for the 800m and won a significant title on her international debut in Poland on Sunday.

Despite a congested British 800m scene, led by Jemma Reekie and Laura Muir, Malcolm believes the criminology student can also make a strong run at the British team for the Tokyo Olympics.

Christian Malcolm has backed Keely Hodgkinson to become Britain’s next ‘world-class’ athlete

He said: ‘She is an outstanding talent and what I think is more important, more impressive, is her tactical nous. For a young athlete to have such a great racing brain and talent is brilliant. 

‘We have to remember she is still very young and has a lot of developing to do, but at the moment she has all the tools to be able to become world class.’

On her Olympic prospects, Malcolm added: ‘I think after that performance (in Poland) she has shown she is one of the best 800m runners in the country. 

Hodgkinson winning the 800m final at the 2021 European Indoor Athletics Championships

‘Obviously we have still got the likes of Jemma Reekie and others who will come out and perform outdoors but it is a conversation for her and her coach to now decide on what they are going to do. I also remember back in 2000 a young Mark Lewis-Francis won world juniors and made a decision to not go to the Olympics and wait his turn. 

‘I think sometimes you just have to be cautious of the athlete’s development and not push them too early. At the moment she has a great head on her shoulders and let’s just see how she goes outdoors.’

It remains to be seen how the wider British athletics team fare in Tokyo. Sportsmail understands their final medal target will be seven to nine, which will be a tall order, and Malcolm himself has indicated the broader aim is the Paris Olympics of 2024.

With Hodgkinson, Max Burgin (800m) and Amy Hunt (200m) holding age-grade world records, and Niamh Emerson having won the junior world heptathlon title in 2018, there is a strong group emerging beneath a current crop that is underwhelming in many places.

Hodgkinson only turned 19 last week but is already showing elite-level ability and potential

Malcolm said: ‘Paris is the long game and the focus for us. We’ve got a lot of talent coming through at this moment in time and it’s being able to nurture and focus that talent.

‘The fact we’ve got three big championships next year in Worlds, Commonwealths and Europeans and then back for the Worlds and Olympics the following two years, I think it’s a real opportunity for these athletes to really grow over the next three years.’