BIRMINGHAM, England — Olympic gold medalist Keely Hodgkinson has announced that she will be out of action for approximately six weeks due to a hamstring injury sustained during training. This setback has dashed her aspirations of setting a new women’s indoor 800-meter world record at the event scheduled for Saturday.

The 22-year-old track star disclosed the nature of her injury, identifying it as a “Grade C” tear in an interview with Sky Sports.

“It’s disappointing because it looks likely that I won’t be racing until the outdoor season now,” Hodgkinson expressed regarding her situation.

The injury occurred as she was preparing for the “Keely Klassic,” an event she initiated, where she intended to challenge Jolanda Ceplak’s longstanding indoor world record of 1 minute, 55.82 seconds, which was set back in 2002.

The world indoor championships are set to take place from March 21-23 in Nanjing, China, adding additional context to her recovery timeline.

“Hamstring injuries can be quite unpredictable, and I need to be cautious,” she explained. “I’m anticipating a period of rehabilitation that could last up to six weeks. It may heal sooner, but it could take a bit longer. However, I am hopeful that it won’t impede my outdoor season.”

Hodgkinson, who clinched gold in the 800 meters at the Paris Olympics, previously earned a silver medal at the Tokyo Games. She was also honored as the BBC Sports Personality of the Year for 2024, highlighting her growing prominence in athletics.

The talented athlete from Manchester is also a two-time silver medalist in the 800 meters at the world outdoor championships, further establishing her as a formidable competitor on the track.