European Athletics Championships: Keely Hodgkinson eyeing Olympic glory after defying illness to win gold

Despite having to return to her sickbed, Keely Hodgkinson immediately switched her attention to the Olympics after successfully defending her 800metre title at the European Athletics Championships in Rome on Wednesday night.

The 22-year-old had been confined to bed in the build-up to event and decided to run just 10 minutes before the final.

And while her winning time was three seconds off her personal best and just 0.14seconds ahead of the chasing pack, it was enough for Britain’s clearest banker for gold.

Ordinarily she would have allowed herself a celebration, but this time her plan was to head back to bed to recover as the long build-up to Paris continues.

“I’m super-excited for Paris,” she said. “The next seven weeks are going to be incredible.

“The Olympic Games are so special. It’s a huge opportunity to change your life and I’m just ready to go for it. I feel really confident.”

Her win in such circumstances fired a warning shot to her rivals — notably Athing Mu, who has yet to compete at the highest level this season because of a hamstring injury, and Mary Moraa, who Hodgkinson has already beaten this season.

Both the victory and just running alone said a lot for the grit and determination of the Briton, who puffed out her cheeks in relief at the finishing line and then simply sat down expressionless.

On reflection, she said: “I was lying in bed thinking, ‘Can I run?’ I’ve been umming and ahing all day. I felt a little bit of a sore throat and sniffles, and then it got worse.

“My whole body was achy and I had a headache. I had vitamin C, aspiring, nose spray, paracetamol. I have just done all I can to get rid of it.

“I only decided to run 10 minutes before the call room, so I’m quite proud of myself for going on the start line and really attacking the gold, given the circumstances.

“I think I would have been disappointed if I didn’t give it a go. I had a title to defend and I really wanted to do it. It’s the worst I’ve felt in a race, but it was just about finding a way to win.

“If they were going to beat me, they had to catch me. I had to believe in the fact that I am the defending champion. When I finished, it was just relief.”

It proved a double golden night for Britain, as the women’s 4x100m relay team of Dina Asher-Smith, Desiree Henry, Amy Hunt and Daryll Neita took top honours.

Those two winning medals took a weakened team, devoid of many of its star turns so close to the Olympics, to third place overall in the table.