Keely Hodgkinson admitted she was a “little nervous” to walk out in her ninja-like new speedsuit in London but felt the all-female Athlos meet was the ideal place to debut the fashion-forward Nike ensemble.
Athlos made its international debut at the StoneX Stadium on Friday night after two stagings in New York City. Red carpets, DJs, fashion and music are all part of its entertainment and digital-first ethos.
The 24-year-old walked out to pyrotechnic plumes on a strobe-lit stage to thumping music from a DJ before dominating the 800 metres in sunglasses and an all-black, Catwoman-like, hooded, part-backless kit with a ponytail cutout and long sleeves.
“I’m honoured they let me put this on show,” said the Olympic 800m champion. “I was a little nervous, walking out. The shades helped me block out the noise, but it was really fun and it’s something I’ll remember forever.
“Honestly this has been like a year in the making with all the adjustments and fittings. It was a really fun process with the Nike innovation team. I think it’s a mixture of fashion, speed and science all coming together, for maybe the future of athletics potentially.
“It was a real honour for them to choose me to put this out first. We weren’t sure when we were going to wear it, but in hindsight an all-women’s event, which is all about the glitz and glamour and putting eyes on women, a bit of a moment was the perfect way to finish the season. So it’s really exciting.”
Hodgkinson believes the suit meets legal standards, and while aerodynamics were of the utmost importance, she did negotiate one critical compromise.
She revealed: “The science was like technically with the air drag you’re slower with your hair out, but I was like, ‘that’s a non-negotiable. My hair is staying out’. I’m very much ‘look good, feel good’ [and that] mental and physical balance.”
Asked if everyone will be wearing the style by the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, Hodgkinson said: “We might know some things that people don’t.
“It was a test out there. This is not something we haven’t seen before. Like Cathy Freeman and some other athletes from a while ago did something like this, and this is the updated new version, with the new technology.
“(Freeman) was before I was born, but I have seen the race and photos. It was really cool to draw inspiration from the past and make it your own as well. The style was a big thing for me.
“I wanted to be comfortable but I wanted to feel a little bit sexy, the back’s open and that makes it feel really cool. It feels like I’m wearing nothing to be honest. I trained in it in South Africa in 37-degree heat and it was OK.”
Hodgkinson won in one minute 56.40 seconds to claim 65,000 US dollars (£48,522) from the 1,057,000 million USD (£790,266) prize pot.
