UK Sport

We use cookies to track and analyse visitors to our website

These cookies help make the website usable by enabling basic functions like page navigation. They are necessary for our website to function and cannot be switched off.
These cookies gather information to understand how visitors interact with the website, such as how many people are using our website of which pages are popular to help us improve user experience. Switching off these cookies will mean that we cannot gather information to improve the user experience.
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by a third party provider whose services we have added to our website. Switching off these cookies mean that areas of our website cannot work properly.

Cookies are small text files that can be used by websites to make a user's experience more efficient.

The law states that we can store cookies on your device if they are strictly necessary for the operation of this site.

For all other types of cookies we need your permission.

This site uses different types of cookies. Some cookies are placed by third party services that appear on our pages.

You can at any time change or withdraw your consent from the Cookie Declaration on our website.

Learn more about who we are, how you can contact us and how we process personal data in our Privacy Policy.

Skip navigation
the national lottery
Twitter Facebook Youtube Instagram LinkedIn
  • About Us
    • UK Sport Structure
    • Board
    • Panels
    • Strategic Plan 2021-31
    • Partners
    • English Institute of Sport
    • Accessibility
    • Contact Us
    • Media Centre
    • FAQs
    • Working at UK Sport
  • Our Work
    • Investing in Sport
    • Investing in Events
    • Talent ID
    • Coaching
    • International Relations
    • Leadership Development & Governance
  • Events
  • News
  • Sports
    Olympic Sports
    • Archery
    • Artistic Swimming
    • Athletics
    • Badminton
    • Basketball
    • Biathlon
    • Bobsleigh
    • Boxing (Amateur)
    • Canoeing
    • View all
    Paralympic Sports
    • Boccia
    • Para Shooting
    • Goalball
    • Para-Archery
    • Para-Athletics
    • Para-Badminton
    • Para-Canoe
    • Para-Cycling
    • Para-Equestrian Dressage
    • View all
  • Resources
    • A Code for Sports Governance
    • Annual Reports
    • HR Policy Templates
    • Reports
    • Board Minutes
    • Business Plan
    • Complaints and Whistleblowing
    • British Cycling Independent Review
    • Eligibility
    • Governing Body and Athlete Guidance
    • Fraud, Corruption and Bribery
    • High Performance System Advisory Group
    • Privacy Policies
    • Publication Scheme
    • The Whyte Review
    • Recruitment Framework
    • Tenders
    • Transparency and Open Data
    • Welsh Language Scheme
  • Jobs in sport
    • Explore Career pathways
    • Jobs in Sport
    • Submit a Job
  • About Us
    • UK Sport Structure
    • Board
    • Panels
    • Strategic Plan 2021-31
    • Partners
    • English Institute of Sport
    • Accessibility
    • Contact Us
    • Media Centre
    • FAQs
    • Working at UK Sport
  • Our Work
    • Investing in Sport
    • Investing in Events
    • Talent ID
    • Coaching
    • International Relations
    • Leadership Development & Governance
  • Events
  • News
  • Sports
    Olympic Sports
    • Archery
    • Artistic Swimming
    • Athletics
    • Badminton
    • Basketball
    • Biathlon
    • Bobsleigh
    • Boxing (Amateur)
    • Canoeing
    • View all
    Paralympic Sports
    • Boccia
    • Para Shooting
    • Goalball
    • Para-Archery
    • Para-Athletics
    • Para-Badminton
    • Para-Canoe
    • Para-Cycling
    • Para-Equestrian Dressage
    • View all
  • Resources
    • A Code for Sports Governance
    • Annual Reports
    • HR Policy Templates
    • Reports
    • Board Minutes
    • Business Plan
    • Complaints and Whistleblowing
    • British Cycling Independent Review
    • Eligibility
    • Governing Body and Athlete Guidance
    • Fraud, Corruption and Bribery
    • High Performance System Advisory Group
    • Privacy Policies
    • Publication Scheme
    • The Whyte Review
    • Recruitment Framework
    • Tenders
    • Transparency and Open Data
    • Welsh Language Scheme
  • Jobs in sport
    • Explore Career pathways
    • Jobs in Sport
    • Submit a Job
Press Enter to Search
News

Tokyo success in the 800 metres a 'defining moment for next generation' of athletes

Published 4 August 2021

Keely Hodgkinson’s Tokyo silver medal will be a defining moment for inspiring the next generation of Team GB athletes, that’s according to former Olympic gold medallist Sally Gunnell. 

 

She also set a new national record in the process, beating Kelly Holmes' mark of 1.56.21 minutes that the double Olympic champion set in 1995.

 

The 19-year-old made the historic final alongside fellow Brits Jemma Reekie and Alex Bell, who finished fourth and seventh respectively.

 

It was Britain’s first medal on the track in Tokyo, with the sport aided by funding generated by National Lottery players, who have helped transform Team GB's Olympic fortunes over the past two decades, as well as supporting good causes including community initiatives.

The 1992 gold medallist, Gunnell, watched the 800m Olympic final from the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, which has benefitted from £2.2billion of National Lottery funding, alongside young athletes from Newham and Essex Beagles in a National Lottery initiative to inspire the next generation in sport. 

 

“Keely has come from nowhere,” Gunnell said, who has seen that National Lottery funding not only helps elite athletes get to the start line of the Games but simultaneously supports grassroots sport too. 

 

“Jemma looked great and really good, but Keely is amazing. Both looked so comfortable in the heat and the final was such an open race.  

 

“But from all three British girls, it's just so inspiring that they got to a final.  

 

“We need to inspire our girls and so many get put off sport from a very young age and that's quite scary.  

 

“We have great role models through Keely, Alex and Jemma, but also from women in all sports from so many nationalities.  

 

“We have a bigger team of women than men for the first time ever in Team GB and I'd like to think that that's been influenced from the last ten, 15 years and thanks to The National Lottery. 

 

“British women are really delivering in athletics and are on top of their game, but also in the women's hockey, the football, the cycling, all kinds of different sports.  

 

“We want women and young girls to learn so much from sport and it's about learning about winning and losing and being part of a team, it’s about building confidence and getting support for girls as individuals and get them to feel strong and confident.” 

 

Olympic sprinter turned bobsledder Montell Douglas was also at the Olympic Park to cheer on the 800m runners and support The National Lottery's campaign to get more children involved in sport.

 

She said: “To have three British women in an Olympic final is insane.  

 

“It’s so inspiring to the youngsters here and they were all screaming and cheering them on and are so inspired. 

 

“Keely’s [performance] was beyond words and a massive congratulations to her. She’s started something there.” 

 

Newham and Essex Beagles Transitional and Endurance Coach Jackie Simpson, who supported the children as they watched history being made with the Olympic final, has also witnessed how The National Lottery has helped develop community athletics.

 

Simpson said: “The kids are so excited by the Olympics and so inspired. There’s new and up and coming athletes constantly and it’s just been so great for British athletics. 

 

“We have so many young girls that are inspired by the female athletes out there, as are the boys as well. They want to achieve what they have and are inspired by how hard they work. 

 

“Without the funding from The National Lottery, these initiatives can’t go ahead so it’s so, so important to give children a purpose.” 

 

Beagles’ hurdler Ben Lane was not only moved by the British performance in Tokyo, but also by the presence of Olympians at the Olympic Park. 

 

The 12-year-old said: “The three females are very inspiring, but I love every event and every sport, like the triathlon and BMX. 

 

“It’s so amazing to have people that have done so much in their careers here right now. 

 

“I also want to win an Olympics gold medal one day for athletics.” 

 

National Lottery players provide vital support to elite athletes who are competing in Tokyo but also a wide variety of community activities to get more people into athletics.  If you’ve been inspired by Team GB and want to get involved, visit www.iamteamgb.com and for more information on how to get involved in athletics, visit https://www.britishathletics.org.uk/get-involved/  

Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
News
Official Handover of the IWG from New Zealand to the UK.
New Zealand handover International Working Group on Women & Sport to the UK
4 August 2022
Group of England Hockey supported stood in a crowd, cheering and waving flags
England and Wales Bid To Host 2026 FIH Hockey Men's World Cup
3 August 2022
Ariel photograph of three Team GB curling athletes stood over the house on a curling ice sheet at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics
UK Sport invests for the long term with broader range of winter sports set for funding
25 July 2022
Sport jobs in the UK
Find & advertise UK based sports jobs here
Read more
Funding Partners
  • DCMS
  • TNL partners
Strategic Partners
  • British Olympic Association
  • Paralympics GB
  • english institute of sport logo
  • Sport England
  • Sport Northern Ireland
  • Sport Wales
  • Sport Scotland
Sitelogo
Sitemap
  • Homepage
  • About Us
  • Our Work
  • Events
  • News
  • Sports
  • Resources
  • Jobs in sport
  • UK Sport Editorial Policy
  • Freedom of Information Act 2000
  • Website Terms
  • Accessibility
  • Cookies Policy
  • FAQs
Contact
UK Sport
21 Bloomsbury Street
London
WC1B 3HF
E: info@uksport.gov.uk
T: +44 (0) 20 7211 5100
Follow us
Twitter Facebook Youtube Instagram LinkedIn

© Copyright UK Sport 2022