It hasn’t been the easiest year for Keely Hodgkinson. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since her gold medal triumph at the Paris Olympics last summer, the British 800m star has endured one of the toughest periods of her career, battling to overcome a string of injuries and get back to action in time for the World Athletics Championships this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I’ve had to be patient and I’m not a patient person,” she admitted ahead of the Wanda Diamond League meeting in Lausanne this week. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yet if the past few days are anything to go by, Hodgkinson’s patience is now paying off in spades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Silesia last weekend, she clocked an astonishing world lead of 1:54.74 in her first race since the Olympics. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Wednesday, she continued her breathtaking return to form with yet another dominant performance at Athletissima Lausanne. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
On a night when many Olympic champions struggled to deal with the conditions, Hodgkinson let the rain bounce off her as she stormed to another statement victory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As she crossed the line, the Wanda Diamond League Official Timekeeper OMEGA clocked her at 1:55.69, a new meeting record.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It wasn’t just any meeting record, meanwhile, but one which 800m legend Maria Mutola had previously held for 23 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Hodgkinson, it was yet more proof that she is back to her very best ahead of Tokyo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“When the pace goes like that, you just forget about everyone else: and it paid off with a solid performance. I couldn\u00b4t have asked for a better start this season,” she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n