Werro-Hodgkinson Rivalry Set to Define Women’s 800m

Posted : 15 August 2026

Audrey Werro’s victory over Keely Hodgkinson in the 800m at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham has added another chapter to an emerging rivalry that could shape the event for years. The 22-year-old Swiss athlete clocked a championship-record 1:54.81 to claim gold, finishing ahead of Olympic champion Hodgkinson, while Femke Broeders-Bol took bronze.

The result marked Werro’s second major victory over Hodgkinson this season. At the Stockholm Diamond League in June, Werro produced a stunning 1:53.98 to beat the Briton and become the first woman in almost 43 years to break the 1:54 barrier. Hodgkinson also set a British record of 1:54.33 in that race.

Werro has now moved within touching distance of Jarmila Kratochvilova’s long-standing world record of 1:53.28, set in 1983. She came even closer in Paris later in June, running 1:53.80, the third-fastest time ever recorded in the women’s 800m.

At just 22, Werro could have many years of elite competition ahead of her, while Hodgkinson, 24, remains one of the leading figures in the event. The emergence of Broeders-Bol, who is adapting to the 800m after establishing herself as a world-class 400m hurdler, adds another dimension to an increasingly competitive field.

Hodgkinson welcomed the prospect of a long-running battle with Werro, noting that both athletes are still young enough to challenge each other for years. She also pointed to Broeders-Bol’s rapid progress as another reason why the 800m could remain highly competitive.

Werro’s European triumph was particularly impressive given the circumstances surrounding her qualification for the final. She fell during her semi-final but was reinstated after an appeal, then seized her second opportunity by producing a composed performance when it mattered most.

The Swiss star said she drew on the hard work from her recent training during the decisive stages of the final. Having secured her first senior European medal, however, Werro was keen to savour the achievement before turning her attention back to the pursuit of faster times.

Broeders-Bol also produced an outstanding performance, winning bronze in 1:55.54 and matching the Dutch national record set by Ellen van Langen in 1991. Her rapid improvement suggests she could become another serious contender as she gains more experience over two laps.

With major Diamond League meetings still ahead, Werro will have further opportunities to chase the world record. The Lausanne meeting on August 21, followed by competitions in Silesia, Zurich and Brussels, could provide additional chances before the Ultimate Championships in Budapest in September.

For now, the focus is on a rivalry that is rapidly becoming one of the most intriguing in athletics. Werro’s rise, Hodgkinson’s determination to respond and Broeders-Bol’s emergence promise to make the women’s 800m one of the sport’s most compelling events in the seasons ahead.

Werro-Hodgkinson Rivalry Set to Define Women’s 800m

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