Keely Hodgkinson admitted she “thought I was going to win” after being denied a third successive European 800m title in a thrilling showdown with Audrey Werro in Birmingham.
The Olympic champion had been hoping to complete a golden hat-trick on home soil but was forced to settle for silver after Switzerland’s Werro produced a stunning championship-record performance.
Hodgkinson crossed the line in 1:55.01, just 0.20 seconds behind her rival, having been unable to overhaul Werro during a gripping final lap.
And the 24-year-old conceded afterwards that she had fully expected to add another major title to her glittering collection.
“Mixed emotions. With that level of competition, any medal is an achievement,” Hodgkinson said.
“I thought I was going to win. I didn’t do anything wrong, just one of those things.
“I’ve had a pretty good day today, just didn’t go the way that I wanted.”
Hodgkinson made a sharp start to the race but Werro quickly took control, moving ahead on the back straight and setting a ferocious pace.
Keely Hodgkinson admitted she “thought I was going to win” after being denied a third successive European 800m title in a thrilling showdown with Audrey Werro in Birmingham
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The Briton remained firmly within striking distance and was positioned just behind the Swiss star as they entered the final bend.
Yet despite Hodgkinson applying pressure down the home straight, Werro refused to buckle.
She powered across the line in 1:54.81 to secure gold and shatter the European Championship record that had stood for 44 years.
Olga Mineyeva had previously held the mark after clocking 1:55.41 in Athens in 1982.
Keely Hodgkinson looks dejected after missing out on gold
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Femke-Broeders Bol completed the podium behind Werro and Hodgkinson, with the Dutch athlete taking bronze in a national-record time of 1:55.54.
Hodgkinson felt there was little she could have done differently and believes the increasingly fierce competition in the women’s 800m is bringing the best out of her.
“There were so many different ways that could have played out and we’d figure it out after the first 100m,” she added.
“Audrey wanted to take it on and with that wind I was happy to let her.
“We’re all really great athletes so I knew it was going to be close.
“I’m looking forward to the next match-up.
“I’ve said all year it’s really motivating to be in such a competitive event. I love it, it brings out the best in me.
“Championship racing, that’s what it’s all about, you don’t know how it’s going to go and some people can have a good day or a bad day.
Keely Hodgkinson will have to lick her wounds and go again after her heartbreak at the European Athletics Championship
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“I had a pretty good day today but it just didn’t go how I wanted it to.”
Werro’s blistering performance still left Jarmila Kratochvilova’s long-standing world record untouched.
The Czech athlete’s remarkable 1:53.28, set in 1983, remains the oldest outdoor world record in athletics.
Hodgkinson’s silver nevertheless added another medal to Britain’s impressive haul on home soil, becoming the host nation’s 10th of the championships.