Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson has been forced to withdraw from the Keely Klassic due to a hamstring injury, ending her hopes of setting a new world record.

The Olympic 800m champion has been left heartbroken after sustaining the injury, which has ruled her out of her highly anticipated world record attempt at the inaugural Keely Klassic.

The British middle-distance star had been aiming to break the long-standing indoor 800m world record at the event named in her honour, but a training setback on Wednesday has dashed those ambitions.

Hodgkinson’s withdrawal from the race, scheduled to take place at Birmingham’s Utilita Arena on Saturday, is a major blow for both the athlete and the event organisers, who had hoped to see her headline the competition.

The 22-year-old had been in outstanding form leading up to the meet and had expressed confidence in surpassing the 1:55.82 record set by Slovenia’s Jolanda Ceplak in 2002—the very day Hodgkinson was born.

“I’m devastated to be missing the launch of the Keely Klassic,” Hodgkinson admitted, as quoted by the Daily Mail.

“When I got the news this afternoon, I shed a tear. I’ve worked so hard for this moment and was in the best shape of my life.”

The injury now places her participation in the upcoming European Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn, Netherlands, in serious doubt.

Furthermore, she faces a tight recovery window to regain fitness in time for the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China—a title she has never won but had been heavily targeting for 2024.

However, Hodgkinson remains committed to the event’s success, emphasising that the meet was about more than just her individual performance.

“But this event was never just about me—it was always about showcasing British talent, creating something new for the sport, and bringing more energy and entertainment to athletics,” she added in a statement, which she also shared on Instagram.

“I’ll be in Birmingham on Saturday, doing everything I can to ensure it’s an amazing night for both the athletes and the fans.”

Despite her absence from the track, she is determined to play an active role in maintaining the event’s excitement, engaging with spectators, and inspiring young athletes.

The Keely Klassic has already suffered multiple high-profile withdrawals, with 2022 world 1500m champion Jake Wightman also pulling out earlier this week due to injury.

However, Olympic 1500m bronze medallist Georgia Bell and world indoor pole vault champion Molly Caudery remain among the top contenders in the field. Nevertheless, the absence of both Hodgkinson and Wightman is a significant setback.