Keely Hodgkinson deliberately withdrew from the final at the British Indoor Championships in order to protect herself and maximise her chances of attacking the world indoor 800 metres record. It was a calculated gamble – and one that paid off handsomely. At the meeting in Liévin, the Paris 2024 Olympic champion erased the long-standing mark of Jolanda Ceplak (1:55.82), set back in 2002. Clocking 1:54.88, the British star produced a historic performance, becoming the first woman ever to dip under 1:55 indoors.