Keely Hodgkinson says European home title would rank close to Olympic gold
The British 800m runner says winning in Birmingham would carry nearly the same weight as an Olympic title as she returns after a difficult outdoor season.
Keely Hodgkinson says taking European 800m gold on home soil in Birmingham would mean almost as much to her as winning Olympic gold. The British runner is set to face top international rivals as she tries to reassert herself after what she described as a tricky outdoor season.
Hodgkinson, who won Olympic 800m gold in Paris last year, said the chance to triumph in front of a home crowd would be especially significant. She is aiming to show she remains the leading force in the event.
The European Athletics Championships are being staged in Birmingham, with Hodgkinson among the headline British entrants. Her race is one of the major events in the meet and comes against a strong field.
According to BBC Sport, Hodgkinson has framed the championship as an important test of her form after a disrupted summer. The competition continues in Birmingham this week.
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