British Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson has disclosed that medical imaging identified a unique anatomical abnormality in her hamstring. The 24-year-old athlete explained that an MRI scan following a suspected tear revealed she has a “split” hamstring, meaning she possesses two tendons in the area where most individuals have only one.
Hodgkinson, who finished second to Switzerland’s Audrey Werro at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest this September, stated that the condition is a double-edged sword. While the dual tendon structure allowed her to continue competing even after one tendon tore during the European Championships in Birmingham, it may also render her more vulnerable to muscular breakdowns.
“My body is quite literally built differently,” Hodgkinson said. “Where most people have one tendon, mine is split – I have two – and we’re trying to figure out if it’s a strength or a weakness.”
She noted that the injury did not prevent her from racing in Birmingham, although she sensed something was amiss. However, managing the condition has required adjustments to her training regimen. Hodgkinson revealed she has reduced her speed work over the last three weeks to mitigate risk, though she has not missed any sessions.
The revelation adds context to a challenging period for the Paris 2024 gold medallist. After a long layoff following her Olympic triumph, Hodgkinson enjoyed success on the indoor circuit in early 2026, setting a world record and winning the World Indoor Championships. However, she has struggled outdoors, losing three consecutive races to Werro and relinquishing her European title.
Hodgkinson also addressed a separate incident where she suffered cuts and back pain while jogging along a canal during a warm-down session. She acknowledged that the fall may have contributed to her subsequent hamstring issues by affecting her quadriceps usage, but emphasized she was not using it as an excuse.
Despite the frustrations of the 2026 season, Hodgkinson expressed optimism about her standing in the sport. “Overall, I’m finishing second in the world and I can’t really be too hard on myself for that,” she said.
She is set to conclude her 2026 campaign at the all-female Athlos event in London on Friday, an initiative launched by Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian.
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