Keely Hodgkinson Wins Athlos 800m in 1:56.40 as Nike Suit Test Defies Hair-Drag Science
Updated
Updated · ESPN · Sep 19
Keely Hodgkinson Wins Athlos 800m in 1:56.40 as Nike Suit Test Defies Hair-Drag Science
3 articles · Updated · ESPN · Sep 19
Summary
1:56.40 delivered Keely Hodgkinson the Athlos London 800m title and a $65,000 prize as she debuted Nike’s hooded, open-back speed suit.
Hodgkinson said one design point overruled the data: despite aerodynamic advice that loose hair creates more drag, she insisted her ponytail stay out as a “non-negotiable.”
Nike and Hodgkinson spent about a year refining the bespoke suit, which she said blended fashion, speed and science and had already been tested in 37C training in South Africa.
Los Angeles 2028 now looms as a possible proving ground for the concept, with Hodgkinson suggesting the Cathy Freeman-inspired design could point to athletics’ future.