Not many athletes had a greater 2024 than British 800m runner Keely Hodgkinson. The 22-year-old from Manchester went undefeated all 12 months, reaching the highest of the rostrum on the Paris Olympics and changing into the primary British lady to win a gold medal on the observe since Christine Ohuruogu at Beijing 2008. Hodgkinson was already named BBC Sports activities Persona of the Yr, and now she’s being honoured by King Charles.
Keely Hodgkinson, Katarina Johnson Thompson & Dina Asher Smith have been awarded MBEs within the New Yr Honours, as has @scotathletics official Sandra Hardacre. pic.twitter.com/xNhkgsyybz
— Quick Working (@FastRunning) December 31, 2024
On Aug. 5 on the Stade de France, Hodgkinson broke away from the reigning world 800m champion Mary Moraa and world indoor champion Ethiopia’s Tsige Duguma on the ultimate lap to say gold in 1:56.72. Duguma took silver and Moraa bronze.
Hodgkinson was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) by King Charles in his New Yr Honours listing for her contribution to athletics. The MBE is an honour awarded by the British monarch to people for vital achievements or excellent service on the native or nationwide stage. The MBE is a part of the broader Order of the British Empire, which acknowledges contributions in varied fields, akin to arts, science, sports activities, public service, and extra. (The Canadian equal is the Order of Canada.)
Different British athletes receiving MBE honours in 2024 embody former world 200m champion Dina Asher-Smith and Olympic silver-medallist heptathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson.
“It’s so wonderful to be acknowledged and to have been given this,” Hodgkinson informed the BBC Information Manchester. “This 12 months has been extremely particular for therefore many causes, and it’s such a pleasant shock to have been honoured on this method. Carry on 2025!”
Hodgkinson will now shift her focus to successful gold on the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, a feat she has but to perform, having received silver in 2022 and 2023.