Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Aug 24
Keely Hodgkinson Withdraws From Zurich 800m as Olympic Champion Says Body Is Not Ready
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Aug 24

Keely Hodgkinson Withdraws From Zurich 800m as Olympic Champion Says Body Is Not Ready

3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Aug 24

Summary

  • Thursday's Zurich Diamond League lost one of its headline 800m matchups after Keely Hodgkinson pulled out, saying she is not ready to race again after the European Championships.
  • The withdrawal also ends a planned rematch with Switzerland's Audrey Werro, who beat Hodgkinson to European gold in Birmingham earlier this month.
  • Zurich's field still includes Femke Broeders-Bol and Hodgkinson's training partner Georgia Hunter-Bell, but world champion Lilian Odira has also withdrawn after illness and weakness since the Commonwealth Games.
  • Hodgkinson had already skipped last week's Lausanne meet and earlier passed on the Commonwealth Games to manage a summer schedule after recent hamstring and knee injuries.
  • The Zurich stop is the penultimate Diamond League meeting of the season before the Brussels final on September 4-5.

Insights

Could Keely Hodgkinson's sudden withdrawal be a strategic move to avoid another defeat against an in-form Audrey Werro before the Brussels final?
Are grueling modern track schedules pushing elite athletes to prioritize injury prevention over highly anticipated rivalry rematches?