Keely Hodgkinson is continuing to make sacrifices

Keely Hodgkinson has explained why she pours her heart and soul into running after being singled out by World Athletics boss Seb Coe. Earlier this year, in between smashing the world indoor record and winning World Indoor Championship gold, she was spotted celebrating her 24th birthday by the middle-distance icon.

Two-time Olympic champion Cole subsequently hailed her down-to-earth nature, calling her the most "authentic person I currently know." He told the UNTAPPED podcast: "I was on my way out. I'd sort of done the early shift and she turned up, and it was her birthday. I mean, she'd only just broken the indoor world record.

"She was only literally a few days away from destroying the field and winning her world indoor title and she was just out celebrating her birthday. She's just completely normal, but she is incredibly talented.

"I'm probably going to lose whatever fan base I've got left in the south of England, but she's absolutely rooted to the north of England and that for me counts for a lot in life."

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The night out was a rarity for Hodgkinson, whose busy training and competition schedule means she doesn't enjoy the freedom and social life most 24-year-olds do. But she is motivated to prove her sacrifices are worth it as she chases further glory, with next year's World Championships and the 2028 Olympics her next big targets.

Speaking at Nike's After Dark event in London, she was asked by DAZED who she runs for. She said: "Running is a very individual sport.

"I have to put myself and my training first, and that means missing out on certain things. So I guess it's everything I don't get to do. I'm out there to prove that all the work was for something."

Hodgkinson doesn't take kindly to people who question her work ethic on social media, where she gives a glimpse of her life away from the track. While most of her posts are well received by fans, a minority of followers unfairly question her commitment to the sport.

Speaking about her social media presence, she told Sky Sports: "It's purely for fun, I don't think too deeply about it. Athletes have a lot of time to kill, I can't run around all day!"

Addressing people who question her work ethic, she said: "I get a lot of comments about that, which really irritates me. I'm like, 'If only you'd known what I'd done today [in training]!'

Hodgkinson's current schedule is less intense now that the outdoor season has ended, during which she took silver in the 800m at the European Championships before winning at London's Diamond League meeting.

She then finished second at the new Ultimate Championships in Budapest before storming to victory at the all-female Athlos meeting, sporting her new Nike catsuit.