In a high-stakes 800m final at the European Championships in Birmingham, Swiss runner Audrey Werro secured gold by defeating Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson. Werro set a new championship record with a time of 1:54.81, narrowly edging out the British star.
A 0.2-second margin that redefines the 800m hierarchy
The recent victory by Audrey Werro over Keely Hodgkinson in Birmingham marks a significant shift in middle-distance running. For the second time in a ten-week span, the 22-year-old Swiss athlete has outmaneuvered the British Olympic champion, suggesting that the dominance once held by Hodgkinson is being challenged by a new,formidable rival.
This rivalry has developed with startling speed, following a previous encounter in Stockholm this past June where Werro clocked a 1:53.98. According to the report, this recent showdown in Birmingham confirms that Werro's ability to match Hodgkinson's finishing speed is no longer a fluke, but a consistent threat to the established order.
The 500-meter surge and Werro’s championship record
Audrey Werro secured her gold medal by executing a decisive tactical move halfway through the race. After a controlled 56-second opening lap, Werro accelerated at the 500-meter mark, effectively pulling away from the field and separating herself from third-place finisher Femke Broeders-Bol. While Hodgkinson attempted to respond to the surge, she was unable to regain the lead before the finish line.
The victory was particularly impressive given the circumstances surrounding Werro's qualification. The source notes that the Swiss athlete only raced in this final after a successful appeal following a trip during her semi-final heat. Despite that setback, she managed to clock a championship record of 1:54 .81 on a breezy evening in Birmingham.
Chasing Jarmila Kratochvilova’s 1:53.28 world record
The emergence of Audrey Werro places the sport's oldest world record back into the conversation. Werro has demonstrated elite-level speed throughout the season, including a run of 1:53.80 that places her in the upper echelon of all-time performers.
If Werro maintains this trajectory, she becomes a legitimate threat to the long-standing mark of 1:53.28 set by the Czech athlete Jarmila Kratochvilova in the 1980s.. As the report highlights, Werro's recent times suggest she possesses the raw speed necessary to potentially breach one of the most "dubious" and enduring records in track and field history.
Can Hodgkinson overcome her 2025 injury setbacks?
While the silver medal is a significant achievement, Keely Hodgkinson’s performance leaves several questions regarding her ability to reclaim her top spot. Even after being told by interviewer Iwan Thomas that a silver is a great achievement, the 24-year-old British runner remained focused on the gold she missed, stating she would have been happier with a win.
The 24-year-old British runner is currently navigating a period of resurgence following injury troubles in 2025, inculding an indoor world record set in February 2026. However, the primary question remains whether Hodgkinson can find an answer to Werro's tactical "kick." While Hodgkinson expressed satisfaction with the level of competition, the narrow 0.2-second loss in Birmingham raises doubts about whether her current form is enough to fend off the Swiss phenomenon in upcoming major championships.
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