Keely Hodgkinson Defends Speed Suit After Social Media Criticism

Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson has defended her black speed suit and addressed criticism from social media users after sharing holiday images online. The 24-year-old British athlete discussed her racing outfit, online presence and preparation for the 2027 season.

Hodgkinson wore the custom speed suit at the Athlos event in London, where she won the 800m race. According to Athletics Weekly, the design took about a year to develop with testing involving Nike designers and her coaching team.

Hodgkinson said her social media posts are intended for entertainment and do not show the full demands of professional athletics.

"I mean when I use social media it’s purely just for fun. I don’t think too deeply about it. Believe it or not, athletes do have a lot of time to kill away from the track." said Keely Hodgkinson, Olympic 800m champion.

She said public expectations that athletes train continuously fail to reflect recovery periods and the balance needed between sessions.

"I can’t run around all day. I get a lot of comments about that. It’s really irritating me because I’m like, if only you knew what I’d done today?

That’s the perception of an athlete - to work all day. And that’s just not sustainable." said Keely Hodgkinson, Olympic 800m champion.

Hodgkinson added that training camps combine intense workouts with time away from competition and personal activities.

"So, you know, me and my friends, we love to mess about. When I go and train in camp, there’s a lot of time to kill. As well as a lot of time spent training." said Keely Hodgkinson, Olympic 800m champion.

She described her YouTube channel as a way to show audiences the realities of elite track and field, including both difficult sessions and the opportunities created by her career.

"I started my YouTube channel a year ago. To bring people on the experience of what it is really like to be a professional track-and-field athlete. What it really takes." said Keely Hodgkinson, Olympic 800m champion.

Hodgkinson said her content also covers the challenging parts of training and her relationship with online platforms.

"And some of the sessions that we have to do. The misery that it sometimes causes. But also the fun side of it.

How I get to live this life. To travel the world. But social media is an interesting one." said Keely Hodgkinson, Olympic 800m champion.

She said she tries to manage the positive and negative sides of social media while maintaining focus on athletics.

"I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with it. Everybody does. I try and manage that as much as I can." said Keely Hodgkinson, Olympic 800m champion.

The speed suit became a major talking point because of its design and testing process. Hodgkinson said the outfit was created to provide comfort and confidence during competition.

"I wanted to be comfortable but I wanted to feel a little bit sexy. The back's open and that makes it feel really cool. It feels like I'm wearing nothing, to be honest." said Keely Hodgkinson, Olympic 800m champion.

Team GB said competition clothing choices remain connected to its official kit arrangements and athlete performance needs ahead of future Olympic events.

"Supported by our partners and in tandem with our sports, we have always worked to provide athlete-centred and innovative kit that supports our teams to perform at their best at both the Summer and Winter Games." said a Team GB spokesperson.

The organization also discussed preparations for upcoming Olympic competitions, including Los Angeles 2028.

"We're confident and excited about what's ahead and the developments we're working towards for future Games, including Los Angeles 2028." said a Team GB spokesperson.

UK Athletics said the suit was a bespoke Nike design made specifically for Hodgkinson and that performance clothing innovations would continue to be reviewed.

"The speed suit Keely Hodgkinson wore at Athlos was a bespoke Nike design created specifically for her. We are in regular dialogue with Nike regarding all aspects of performance apparel and will continue to assess any innovations that could benefit our athletes in future championship environments." said a UK Athletics spokesperson.

Hodgkinson's coach Jenny Meadows said the athlete has a history of experimenting with new approaches and combining performance with personal style.

"Keely is an innovator, she's always wanted to do things differently, and she's a big lover of fashion." said Jenny Meadows, Hodgkinson's coach.

Meadows said the coaching team focused on whether the design could improve performance rather than only its appearance.

"Nike were so respectful of us as coaches because they obviously wanted us to be really, really comfortable with it. Because at the end of the day, we think about performance, and it's not just what you look like." said Jenny Meadows, Hodgkinson's coach.

She explained that new equipment must prove its value in competition conditions before being accepted.

"You've got to think: Is it faster or is it just a gimmick? You've actually got to walk out in front of an audience the first time and you've got to win in that thing. It's a statement piece." said Jenny Meadows, Hodgkinson's coach.

Meadows also shared Hodgkinson's reaction after using the suit, saying the athlete felt it helped her movement during racing.

"She was literally like, 'Guys in this speed suit, I can run.' She says it feels like she's not wearing anything. She says, 'Honestly, it feels just so light. I can flow.'" said Jenny Meadows, Hodgkinson's coach.

Hodgkinson said the design was inspired by Australian athlete Cathy Freeman, who wore a similar outfit while winning gold at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

"[Freeman] was before I was born, but I have seen the race and photos. It was really cool to draw inspiration from the past and make it your own as well. The style was a big thing for me." said Keely Hodgkinson, Olympic 800m champion.