Britain’s Keely Hodgkinson said becoming the Olympic champion in the 800m on Monday after a string of silver medals in major finals was “life-changing”.
The 22-year-old produced a thrilling gun-to-tape drive to win, ending any fears that she would be runner-up again.
Hodgkinson won silver at the Tokyo Olmypics three years ago before finishing second at the 2022 and 2023 World Championships and also at the Commonwealth Games two years ago.
She said that not even an hour after the impressive win at a packed Stade de France, her achievement had yet to “sink in”.
“It changed my life last time,” she said, referring to her silver in Tokyo.
“So it’s (life-changing). I don’t think anyone can take that away from me to be a champion. Just the fact that I’ve come away with it is unbelievable.
“I don’t know what it’s going to bring, but I think I’m much better prepared for it than the last time I was in Tokyo.”
Hodgkinson clocked 1 min 56.72 s to win, silver was won by Ethiopian Tsige Duguma in 1:57.15 and Kenyan Mary Moraa took bronze (1:57.42).
She said the pressure was definitely there after a few silvers.
“Yeah, 100 percent,” she said of feeling the pressure.
“The British love their Olympics. After what I did in London (in a personal best last month) I knew it made me the favourite.
“Nothing is guaranteed. You see favorites go, medal contenders. It’s so hard. It’s so rough in sports.”
Hodgkinson, who had family at the stadium including her parents Dean and Rachel, said she used a psychologist as one of several measures to get her in the right rhythm.
“It’s super, super hard to perform on a big stage and I respect anyone who’s been able to do that,” she said.
“It was definitely different and it definitely has a different mental attitude.
“I used my psychologist a bit more in these championships and did what I could to get the job done.
“But yes, we are here and now we have done it and I am very happy.
Hodgkinson said she tried to suppress thoughts of her rivals pouncing on her.
“I can’t control what they do,” Hodgkinson said. “As long as I crossed the line, knowing that I would give it my all, then I could be satisfied, whatever the result.
“But I think I knew I was going to be hard to beat today and she (Moraa) was going to have to do something special.
Hodgkinson set a personal best of 1:54.61 just before the Games and says she is aiming to break Jarmila Kratochvílova’s 41-year-old world record (1:53.28).
“It’s definitely another goal,” she said. “Whether it works out or not, as I say, nothing is guaranteed.
“I’d like to try it. I have a feeling there’s more.”
Hodgkinson became the third British woman to win Olympic gold in the 800m after Anne Packer in 1964 and Kelly Holmes in 2004.
Holmes was in the crowd, though Hodgkinson said it was difficult for the 2004 champion to keep her tongue clean.
“She was just jumping up and down and trying not to swear,” Hodgkinson said.
“She’s super sweet. I love her energy. You can tell she’s a champion. I really wanted to emulate what she did. Kelly and Keely bonded.”
