Hodgkinson leads GB medal hopes at world indoors

March 5, 2026 No Comments

Hodgkinson leads GB medal hopes at world indoorsImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Keely Hodgkinson smashed the world indoor 800m record, set by Slovenia’s Jolanda Ceplak on the day the Briton was born in 2002, in Lievin on 19 February ByHarry PooleBBC Sport journalistPublished9 minutes agoKeely Hodgkinson will lead Great Britain’s gold medal hopes at the World Athletics Indoor Championships when a strong squad travels to Poland later this month.Four weeks after breaking the long-standing women’s indoor 800m world record, Olympic champion Hodgkinson is aiming to win the world indoor title on her first appearance at the event.

The 24-year-old, a three-time world medallist outdoors, could also be considered for the 4x400m relay team after running a personal best 51.49 seconds over the shorter distance at the start of March.

The World Athletics Indoor Championships take place from 20 to 22 March in Torun, Poland, with live coverage on the BBC.

‘This woman is untouchable’ – GB’s Hodgkinson breaks women’s indoor 800m world record

Jeremiah Azu will seek to retain his men’s 60m title, while world 200m silver medallist Amy Hunt is joined by British record holder Dina Asher-Smith – competing at the world indoors for the first time since 2016 – in the women’s 60m.

Josh Kerr, the 2023 world champion and 2024 Olympic silver medallist over 1500m, will attempt to regain the 3,000m title he won in Glasgow two years ago.

World 800m silver medallist Georgia Hunter Bell, whose 1500m bronze from last year’s world indoors looks set to be upgraded after runner-up Diribe Welteji was handed a two-year doping ban, joins 2024 world indoor 800m silver medallist Jemma Reekie in the women’s 1500m.

Pole vaulter Molly Caudery will target a return to a global podium for the first time since her world indoor triumph two years ago, as will 800m runner Ben Pattison following his breakout world medal in 2023.

The final size of the initial 29-member British team could yet change, with 15 athletes selected subject to the final world ranking positions, which will be finalised by 11 March.

Reigning world indoor 400m champion Amber Anning will not compete in order “to focus on preparing for a big outdoor season ahead, including the Commonwealth Games and the European Championships”.

GB squad at World Athletics Indoor Championships

Men

60m – Jeremiah Azu, Jody Smith
800m – Ben Patterson
1500m – Jack Higgins, James McMurray*
3,000m – Josh Kerr*
Heptathlon – Lewis Church*
High jump – Joel Clarke Khan*
Pole vault – Owen Heard*
Shot put – Scott Lincoln*

Women

60m – Dina Asher-Smith, Amy Hunt
60m hurdles – Abigail Pawlett*, Emma Nwofor*
400m – Yemi Mary John, Louisa Stoney*
800m – Issy Boffey, Keely Hodgkinson
1500m – Georgia Hunter Bell, Jemma Reekie
3,000m – Hannah Nuttall, Katie Snowden*
Pentathlon – Abigail Pawlett*, Ellen Barber*
Pole vault – Molly Caudery*
Long jump – Molly Palmer*
Triple jump – Georgina Forde-Wells*
4x400m relay – Poppy Malik, Louisa Stoney, Tess McHugh, Jazmine Moss (plus athletes selected for individual events)