- The 22-year-old won gold in Paris having defended her European title in Rome
- Shortlist for prestigious award was compiled by ‘panel of international experts’
- Hodgkinson is one of three nominees for Women’s European Athlete of the Year
Keely Hodgkinson has been controversially snubbed from the shortlist of the prestigious World Athletics Awards.
The British star won gold in the 800 metres at the Olympics in Paris in August, as well as defending her European title in Rome in June.
Hodgkinson was unbeaten over two laps all season and also clocked the fastest time in the world this year with a run of 1min 54.61sec in London in July, the sixth quickest in history.
However, despite her stellar campaign, the 22-year-old has been bizarrely overlooked on the six-strong shortlist for Women’s Track Athlete of the Year.
Nominated instead are six other Olympic champions – Julien Alfred (100m), Gabby Thomas (200m), Marileidy Paulino (400m), Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (400m hurdles), Faith Kipyegon (1500m) and Beatrice Chebet (5,000m and 10,000m).
Keely Hodgkinson has been snubbed from the shortlist of the World Athletics Awards
The British star won gold in the 800 metres at the Olympics in Paris in August, as well as defending her European title
The shortlist was compiled by a ‘panel of international experts’ put together by World Athletics. A public vote will determine the winner.
Despite missing out on a global award, Hodgkinson is one of three nominees for the Women’s European Athlete of the Year, which will be announced in Skopje, North Macedonia on Saturday.
She is also the overwhelming favourite to be crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year in Salford in December.
Hodgkinson would be the fourth successive female winner of the prize, after Emma Raducanu, Beth Mead and Mary Earps. The last female athlete to win the BBC gong was Kelly Holmes in 2004 after she also won the 800m at the Olympics, as well as the 1500m.
Following her Olympic glory in Paris, Hodgkinson picked up a minor knee injury which curtailed the rest of her season.
Despite missing out on a global award, Hodgkinson is one of three nominees for the Women’s European Athlete of the Year
But she is now training again in Font Romeu in France before continuing her preparations for 2025 in South Africa.
Hodgkinson’s next major events are likely to be the European Indoor Championships in the Netherlands and the World Indoor Championships in China in March.