{"id":17501,"date":"2023-03-05T21:22:35","date_gmt":"2023-03-05T21:22:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2023\/03\/05\/keely-hodgkinson-he-had-so-much-belief-in-me-aw\/"},"modified":"2023-03-05T21:22:35","modified_gmt":"2023-03-05T21:22:35","slug":"keely-hodgkinson-he-had-so-much-belief-in-me-aw","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2023\/03\/05\/keely-hodgkinson-he-had-so-much-belief-in-me-aw\/","title":{"rendered":"Keely Hodgkinson: “He had so much belief in me” – AW"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The 21-year-old dedicates her European Indoor 800m gold medal to former coach Joe Galvin, who recently passed away<\/h5>\n

Keely Hodgkinson is used to carrying the British flag on her back with the number of major championships medals she has collected over the past few years.<\/p>\n

The Union Jack on this occasion was different.<\/p>\n

Joe Galvin, who he and partner Margaret had coached a young Hodgkinson through her early teenage years, sadly passed away on Tuesday (February 28).<\/p>\n

The letters of his name were placed across the flag with \u201clegend\u201d placed vertically. It wasn\u2019t hard to work out how much he meant to Hodgkinson and why dedicating her second Euro Indoor 800m title on the spin to Galvin was the first thing on her mind.<\/p>\n

For the recently turned 21-year-old, the fact he passed away the day that Hodgkinson flew out to the European Indoor Championships would\u2019ve been an emotional test. It was so fitting she produced her 19th consecutive sub-2 minute performance \u2013 excluding heats \u2013 with a time of 1:58.66 in Istanbul.<\/p>\n

Once victory was secured the emotions poured out.<\/p>\n

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\u201cHe was such a great man and he had so much belief in me.\u201d <\/p>\n

An emotional interview with @keelyhodgkinson<\/a> who paid tribute to her former coach Joe Galvin, who sadly passed away on Tuesday \ud83d\ude4f<\/p>\n

She dedicated her Euro Indoor 800m gold to him \ud83e\udd47<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udf99\ufe0f @TimAdams76<\/a> #Istanbul2023<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/oPdhztiGCo<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 AW (@AthleticsWeekly) March 5, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u201cI haven\u2019t really had time to think about it or reflect on it because I\u2019ve been at a championships and there has been so much going on,\u201d she told\u00a0AW.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI got a little bit emotional in my BBC interview. He was such a great man and had so much belief in me. He gave so much to the sport and I dedicate this gold medal to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe did so much for me. He got me to my first GB vest, my European youth gold [Gy\u0151r 2018], my European U20 bronze [Bor\u00e5s 2019]. He also helped me find Trevor [Painter].<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery time I met him he was like \u2018you\u2019re going to do this and this!\u2019. I\u2019ll get to go to his funeral in two weeks time and properly say goodbye.\u201d<\/p>\n

The manner and expectation of Hodgkinson\u2019s victory proves how far she has come. Since the once young prodigious teenager burst onto the scenes by becoming British 800m champion two years ago, she has gone onto claim Olympic, world and Commonwealth 800m silver, while also becoming European champion in the distance.<\/p>\n

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Keely Hodgkinson with coach Trevor Painter (Getty)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

She holds both British 800m outdoor and indoor records and at the Bryggen meet on January 28 became the fastest athlete indoors over 600m in history.<\/p>\n

Does Hodgkinson reflect about her achievements at just 21? For her, age is just a number.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I came onto the scene three years ago I just felt like this is what I want to do, take the opportunity and every championships is a new slate,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter who is there. I want to do the best that I can and hopefully it\u2019s enough.<\/p>\n

\u201cHopefully I am inspiring young girls around me to come into the sport. It\u2019s not easy but it\u2019s definitely worth it.\u201d<\/p>\n

With Hodgkinson facing her biggest rivals, Athing Mu and Mary Moraa, on a global stage, it has provided an opportunity to hit the front early on in European Championships without the relative fear of being chased down.<\/p>\n

She has now raced in a European outdoor and two indoor 800m finals and won all of them, with the ease of someone who knows they\u2019re in complete control. That acumen is a testament to her training and ability to process information incredibly well.<\/p>\n

[The 800m being unpredictable] \u201cYeah definitely,\u201d Hodgkinson said. \u201cIn indoors you get shoved into lane 5 if you\u2019re not careful! The best way for me today was to get out of the most dangerous part which was the first 100m. I managed to do it, held my own and got to the line!<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been very consistent around the 1:57 mark all season. There are times when I thought I might\u2019ve wanted more from myself and there will come a time for that [quicker times] I hope. I\u2019m healthy, happy and doing what I love to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Keely Hodgkinson (Getty for BA)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Hodgkinson remains unbeaten in 2023 and has passed her indoor season with flying colours.<\/p>\n

With another golden moment at European level the question will be whether she can finally take down Mu and avenge that world 800m final from Oregon 2022.<\/p>\n

Hodgkinson will now fly to Dubai for some rest before returning to South Africa in the spring. The cover star for AW\u2019s February magazine<\/a>, she talked about \u201cworking on the small margins\u201d to become world 800m champion.<\/p>\n

If she does, there is no doubt Joe Galvin will be in her thoughts once again.<\/p>\n

\u00bb <\/i><\/b>More coverage from Istanbul 2023 <\/i>here<\/i><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00bb <\/i><\/b>Subscribe to AW magazine <\/i>here<\/i><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Subscribe to the AW Newsletter<\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n