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| Venue: Atakoy Arena, Istanbul Date: 2-5 March |
| Coverage: BBC TV, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website & app |
Great Britain’s Keely Hodgkinson stormed to gold as she defended her 800m title in style at the European Indoor Championships in Istanbul.
Hodgkinson has been in scintillating form so far this season and she carried that form into the final, finishing well clear in one minute 58.66 seconds.
The Olympic and world silver medallist, who turned 21 on Friday, crossed the line almost two seconds clear of Slovenia’s Anita Horvat.
France’s Agnes Raharolahy took bronze.
Hodgkinson has been untouchable in 2023, improving her own British record among three successive 800m victories, in addition to setting a women’s 600m world indoor record.
But, keen to make the most of every opportunity, she has still wanted more, with Jolanda Ceplak’s long-standing world record of one minute 55.82 seconds – set on the day Hodgkinson was born in 2002 – proving narrowly out of reach.
The clear favourite for gold at Atakoy Arena, the Briton quickly asserted herself at the front before easing clear of the competition and raising a finger to the sky in celebration at the end of another perfectly executed race.
It took GB’s medal tally to five following Laura Muir’s record fifth European Indoor Championship title on Saturday.
More to follow.
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