LONDON : Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson ended an injury-hit season on a high by winning the 800 metres at the all-women’s Athlos London 2026 on Friday, racing in a black hooded speedsuit that gave the Briton a superhero-like appearance.
Hodgkinson pulled away from the field over the final 200 metres to win in one minute, 56.40 seconds, finishing more than two seconds clear at StoneX Stadium.
The London event was the first Athlos meeting outside the United States after two editions in New York.
“I would have loved to have had (an event like this) when I was younger,” Hodgkinson said. “This is fun… life is supposed to be about enjoying it.”
Hodgkinson finished second to Switzerland’s Audrey Werro at last week’s World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest, where she later revealed she had suffered a hamstring tear at the European Championships in Birmingham several weeks earlier.
The 24-year-old said an MRI scan last season had shown a rare split hamstring tendon, which allows her to continue competing through injury but could increase the risk of recurring problems.
There was little sign of discomfort on Friday as Hodgkinson embraced the event’s entertainment-focused approach, wearing a suit reminiscent of Cathy Freeman’s outfit at the 2000 Sydney Olympics along with dark glasses.
“I know, it’s pretty sick,” she said. “It’s a project I’ve been working on with Nike for a long time. I thought what a place to bring it out, an all-women’s event. It went down a treat.”
Athlos was created by Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian with the aim of giving women’s athletics greater exposure while offering significant prize money and opportunities for athlete ownership.
That approach was evident in London, with individual athlete walkouts, the long jump staged on a raised platform beside the track and winners receiving custom Tiffany & Co. crowns.
American Sha’Carri Richardson won the 100 metres in 10.80 seconds and said the event’s debut in London reflected its growing international reach.
“It is going to continue to grow and the world is watching,” Richardson said.
The 100 metres was one of seven disciplines on the programme, with no qualifying rounds and six athletes competing in each final.
Winners received $65,000, with prize money extending to $6,000 for sixth place, while any athlete breaking a world record would earn a $250,000 bonus.
“I just graduated college and I’m broke, so this is amazing,” American Alyssa Jones said after winning the long jump with a leap of 6.66 metres.
No world records were seriously threatened as athletes competed in chilly 17 Celsius conditions and dealt with end-of-season fatigue.
Six days after winning the women’s 1,500 metres at the World Athletics Ultimate Championships, Poland’s Klaudia Kazimierska edged Britain’s Georgia Hunter Bell at the finish to win the women’s mile in 4:19.43, 0.11 seconds ahead of Hunter Bell.
“Georgia looked like she was in control but Klaudia said ‘not today,'” Ohanian said while watching alongside his wife, tennis great Serena Williams. “Wow. It’s sport, that’s why we love it.”
