Greater Manchester’s very own Keely Hodgkinson has already done us well and truly proud at this year’s Olympics but is already eyeing up her next achievement: she wants the world record.
Hodgkinson from the town of Atherton picked up the gold medal in women’s 800m at Paris 2024 in fine fashion, putting to bed her series of narrow second-placed finishes and finally notching the top prize at what is just her second appearance at the Summer Games.
Cruising home to victory and looking far and away the fastest female on the track, it’s no exaggeration to label her one of the fastest women on the planet and it seems the Wiganer has no intention of resting on her laurels after the remarkable win and no intends to prove that very fact.
Barely taking time to catch her breath after the first-ever Olympic gold of her career, Keely was asked if she believes breaking the event’s long-standing record is achievable and her response was simple but emphatic: “Yes”.
Speaking to Telegraph Sport, mentor and ‘second mum’ Jenny Meadows detailed how “she’s always said, quite shyly, that ‘I want to be one of the greatest ever'”, adding, “She’s sixth of all time. Trevor [Painter – husband and fellow coach] and I believe she is in the shape to be third of all time.
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“We believe she can run high 1:53 at the moment. Over the next couple of years, she can get down towards that world record if she stays healthy, motivated and still enjoys it, which I’ve got no doubts about.”
The current athletics world record of one minute and 53.28 seconds in the women’s 800m was set by Jarmila Kratochvilova in 1983 and very few come close to matching it in the 41 years since, let alone surpassing such a feat.
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Nevertheless, with the modernisation of the sport in all facets, from training, health and physio work to the gear and surfaces now used in events, there is plenty of belief that she can go on to break it – especially given she is still several years off what most would deem her ‘peak’ years.
Hodgkinson has already set a new world-leading and national record of 1:54:61 at the Diamond League London last month and hit a world indoor best (1:23:41) in the 600m at her home track here in Manchester back in January 2023. Is another one on the way?
As for the 22-year-old middle-distance marvel herself, she did confess that “It’s definitely a goal […] I’d love to give it a good go. There’s more in there.
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“When you’re at the top of your game, why not? After the 1.54, training got better and better and there were sessions that indicated there was so much more there.”
Although she has joked that she’s barely slept since the sheer buzz of winning, Hodgkinson did assure she’ll reward herself with a few days off in the sun and some relaxation time for once before targeting the world record – that sounds wise and very well deserved, if you ask us, Keely.
Meanwhile, Team GB sits fifth overall in the table at the Paris Olympics, with her gold making up a dozen earned at this tournament, along with 15 silvers and 19 bronze medals for a total of 46 so far.
With just a few days left to go, can the UK match their greatest-ever tally of 67 achieved at Rio 2016?
Tickets go live as opening date is announced for Manchester City’s new ‘immersive’ museum experience
Emily Sergeant
Tickets to visit Manchester City’s new ‘immersive’ museum experience have officially gone live ahead of the grand opening.
Set to open in the heart of the £300m Medlock Square entertainment district at Manchester’s Etihad Campus next month, the Manchester City Museum Experience will be spread across 10 distinctive spaces – with visitors invited to take a trip down memory lane with nostalgic environments from throughout the club’s history.
Fans will also be able to take part in interactive media experiences, like posing with all 48 major trophies won by the club’s first teams or trying their hand at football punditry.
The experience will combine the latest immersive technology with physical memorabilia drawn from across the club’s history to do this.
Hidden details and surprising ‘did you know’ facts are set to be embedded across the experience, so that even the most devoted Man City fans will have the chance to discover something new about the club they love.
By combining interactive environments, technology, and authentic artefacts, the experience is aiming to appeal to a wide audience – from lifelong Manchester City supporters, to families and those with a broader interest in football, culture, and the city of Manchester.
“The Museum Experience has been designed as a destination that goes beyond just the pitch,” commented Jeremy Maxton, who is the Director of Visitor Attractions at Manchester City Football Club.
Manchester City releases CGIs and important details of its new ‘immersive’ museum / Credit: Manchester City / Ralph Appelbaum Associates (RAA)
“Whether you’re a lifelong supporter, visiting Manchester for a weekend, or simply looking for a unique day out, we’ve created an experience that offers something for everyone.
“From the recreated environments and original memorabilia to the interactive elements, there are different ways into the Club’s history throughout the Museum.
“We’ve also built in space for new stories to be added over time, so the experience can continue to evolve. It’s been a huge project to bring together and we’re looking forward to people seeing it for themselves later this year.”
The Manchester City Museum Experience officially opens on 14 December, and you can now book tickets to visit from that date here.
Featured Image – Credit: Manchester City / Ralph Appelbaum Associates (RAA)
Sport
Details released of Andy Burnham’s meetings with Manchester City owners while Mayor
Emily Sergeant
Details of Andy Burnham’s meetings with Manchester City owners during his tenure as Mayor of Greater Manchester have been released.
In case you need bringing up to speed on the situation a little first, Manchester City was found guilty back in September all of its charges related to the Premier League’s financial rules over a nine-season period, and on top of that, was also found guilty of the majority of charges in relation to its failure to co-operate with the League’s investigation.
According to the Premier League, the independent Commission found that Manchester City had arranged so-called ‘sham’ commercial deals with a number of its sponsors.
These were part of a disguised funding scheme – with those sponsors only required to pay a portion of the relevant sponsorship fees.
The remainder was then funded by Abu Dhabi United Group Investment & Development Ltd (ADUG), which owned the club.
The Commission also concluded, as quoted by the Premier League, that the club had ‘made concerted efforts to stop and frustrate the Premier League investigation’.
Within the past week or so, it has since come to light that now-Prime Minister Andy Burnham had dealings with Manchester City during his tenure as Greater Manchester Mayor, and Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) has now issued a public statement, giving details on the matter and what these ‘dealings’ entailed.
A spokesperson for GMCA confirmed that Burnham had a ‘formal meeting’ with Man City Chairman, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, back in October 2021.
The statement reads in full: “In October 2021, Andy Burnham, in his role as Mayor of Greater Manchester, had a formal meeting with Khaldoon Al Mubarak at the UK Government’s Global Investment Summit arranged by the Department for International Trade.
“In his capacity as Mayor, he was a guest of Manchester City FC at home matches on a small number of occasions, including attending Vincent Kompany’s testimonial match in September 2019, where he met the Chairman informally in the stands. These have been declared in the usual way.
“Also during his time as Mayor, representatives of Greater Manchester sporting clubs would routinely join business delegations as part of Mayoral international visits.
“This included representatives from Manchester United travelling to Austin and Dublin, Lancashire Cricket Club joining a delegation to India, and Manchester City FC staff supporting visits to China and Japan.”
Featured Image – Lauren Hurley / Number 10 Downing Street (Press Image via Flickr)
Danny Jones -
7th August 2024 
