A double Olympic medallist in 2021 and 2024, and reigning champion over two laps of the track, Britain’s Keely Hodgkinson is unquestionably the best in the world at her discipline, holding a clear edge over her main rivals (Jemma Reekie, Mary Moraa). The first British Olympic champion over 800m since Dame Kelly Holmes in 2004, Hodgkinson’s successor is not yet needed but she may already be here in the form of Phoebe Gill.
Phoebe Gill, the New Star of British Middle-Distance Running
In 2023, at just 16 years old, Gill had already demonstrated remarkable potential, clocking 2:01.50 over 800m a time that placed her among the most promising young middle-distance talents in the world. But it was in 2024 that this promise truly materialised. At a meet in Belfast, Gill made a statement with a stunning 1:57.86. This personal best not only shattered the European U18 record but also made her the second-fastest U18 athlete in history over the distance. That performance earned her a spot at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where she impressively reached the semi-finals at just 17 years old.
While her Olympic qualification time turned heads, Phoebe Gill also shone at the 2024 British Championships. With six other British athletes achieving the Olympic standard (Hodgkinson was pre-qualified as the reigning world champion), only the top two finishers at the nationals could book their ticket to Paris. In this decisive race, Gill delivered a superb victory in 1:58.66, finishing six-tenths ahead of Jemma Reekie, an Olympic finalist in Tokyo. At just 17 years old, she became the youngest British 800m champion since 1974, further proving her maturity and composure on the track.
A Meteoric Rise That Comes as No Surprise
Those closely following British athletics are not surprised by Phoebe Gill’s rapid ascent. She had already set national age-group records, including breaking the British record for her age in 2022 with 2:03.34. The following year, she confirmed her potential by winning English Schools and the Commonwealth Youth Games, posting 2:01.50. Her Belfast triumph in 2024 was simply the culmination of a progression that shows no signs of slowing down.
A Bright Future Ahead
Phoebe Gill has now firmly established herself as one of the leading figures of British middle-distance running, ready to follow in the footsteps of Keely Hodgkinson, who remains at the peak of her career. Having already run three sub-two-minute races within a matter of months, Gill has demonstrated that her performances are no fluke. Her ability to adapt to different race dynamics, as she showcased in the British Championships final, marks her as a true competitor on the global stage.
With the mentorship of Keely Hodgkinson and Jemma Reekie, Gill is in excellent hands. Hodgkinson, who herself made her Olympic debut as a teenager, winning silver at 19 understands the challenges that come with early success and has taken the young talent under her wing. “They’re incredible people, and I couldn’t dream of better mentors,” says Gill.
The future looks incredibly bright for this young athlete, who has already shown the makings of a future champion. If Keely Hodgkinson were ever to relinquish her throne, Phoebe Gill appears more than ready to step up. The 2025 World Championships in September could provide her with the chance to claim her first major medal, though competition is set to be fierce.
