Back-to-back wins for Hodgkinson since injury return

Keely Hodgkinson produced another statement performance before next month's World Championships as she made it back-to-back victories since returning from injury.

Hodgkinson, 23, clocked one minute 55.69 seconds to set a meeting record despite miserable conditions at the Lausanne Diamond League in Switzerland.

It comes just four days after Hodgkinson ended a 376-day wait to compete for the first time since winning gold at Paris 2024, following a season decimated by injury.

Training partner Georgia Hunter Bell was third in 1:57.55, behind Switzerland's Audrey Werro (1:57.34).

Despite suffering two hamstring tears this year, which delayed her season-opener until four weeks before the World Championships, Hodgkinson has wasted no time in reasserting herself as the favourite for gold in Tokyo.

The two-time world silver medallist announced her return in emphatic fashion in Silesia, Poland on Saturday, clocking the quickest time of 2025 - and the ninth-fastest in history - in 1:54.74.

That was just 0.13secs short of her lifetime best - the British record she ran at last year's London Diamond League in the lead-up to her stunning Olympic triumph.

Speaking at Tuesday's news conference, Hodgkinson teased that she "wouldn't rule out" going even faster in Lausanne as she sought to hone her race-day sharpness.

While the conditions prevented that on Wednesday evening, Hodgkinson once again proved a class above her competition as she powered clear on the final lap to claim another commanding win.

"I couldn't have asked for a better start, I'm a bit in shock myself," Hodgkinson told BBC World Service Sport.

"I train really hard for moments like this but when it all comes together it makes it extra special.

"Trevor [Painter - her coach] said to me a few weeks ago 'you're actually ahead of schedule, I wanted you to be here by the time we're in Tokyo' - so to be here now is amazing. Hopefully we can stay healthy and build on top of what we've got, and let's see what can happen."

This was also Hunter Bell's final planned race before the Olympic 1500m bronze medallist decides which event she will target in pursuit of another global podium.

Hunter Bell, also coached by Painter and Jenny Meadows, has taken impressive Diamond League wins over 800m in Stockholm and London this season.

The 31-year-old, who broke the British 1500m record to make the Olympic podium on her debut last summer, lined up with a personal best of 1:56.28 in the 800m - the event in which she shone as a junior before quitting the sport for five years.

She recently met with British icon Dame Kelly Holmes, winner of 800m and 1500m golds at the 2004 Olympics, for advice on attempting a potential double in Tokyo.

"I wanted a bit quicker but it was hard today, hard to recover from the race a few days ago," said Hunter Bell.

On her plans for Tokyo, she added: "I don't know, I'm going to decide this week. I'm running out of time to make a decision. Every day I change my mind."

The Great Britain and Northern Ireland team for next month's World Championships is set to be announced on Wednesday, 27 August.