Three Olympic 800m Champions, One Historic Moment
The AJ Bell Great Manchester Run 2025 made history on Sunday as the only British women to ever win the 800m Olympic Gold came together for the first time on the start line.
Keely Hodgkinson MBE, Dame Kelly Holmes and Ann Brightwell Packer have inspired generations and each other in a legacy that started back in 1964.
Ann came from behind to take the line in the Tokyo 1964 Olympics in 2:01:1, setting a world record. This was only the second time the 800M had been held and at the time was the longest event in the Olympics.
Forty years later Kelly built on Ann’s legacy with her shock win in Athens 2004 in a time of 1:56:38, before going on to win the double in the 1500M a few days later.
Manchester local Keely, who was the Official Starter of the Great Manchester Run 2025 was the golden girl of last summer’s Paris Olympics, with her performance in the 800M (1:56:72) mesmerizing the nation.
Dame Kelly said: “You enter a race hoping to be the best version of yourself you can be, and the Olympics is the pinnacle. To think that Ann’s race was the longest distance for women at that time is unbelievable now. By my time, female sport was on the rise and no one had ever achieved what I did in Great Britain, leaving a legacy for younger people like Keely to then take the lead on.”
Keely added: “I was inspired by these amazing ladies that came before me. This is history right here and it’s amazing to be part of it.”
Read the full story about their historic meeting at Athletics Weekly here.
Related Articles
1/11
AJ Bell Great South Run – Osborne Family Run for Portsmouth Down Syndrome Association
The Osborne family are running together to raise funds and awareness for the Portsmouth Down Syndrome Association (Portsmouth DSA).
Max’s Story: AJ Bell Great South Run 2025
Max Ross shares why he gets involved with the Great South Run and his passion of giving back to the Portsmouth Down Syndrome Association.
Record Numbers Join North East’s Biggest 10k
The sold-out AJ Bell Great North 10k took place this morning with 10,000 runners setting off from the new Great North Road start line.
What to Expect at This Year’s AJ Bell Great North 10k
This year’s AJ Bell Great North 10K is on and it's set to be our biggest yet. Want the full download on what to expect? Read on.
Angela Summers Defies the Odds to be the Inspirational Last Finisher
Angela Summers, 61, from Fallowfield in Manchester, was the inspirational final finisher at Sunday’s AJ Bell Great Manchester Run.
RSM UK announced as Birmingham Business Challenge winners
Audit, tax and consulting firm RSM UK have been announced as the official winners of the 2025 AJ Bell Great Birmingham Run Business Challenge.
Manchester’s Greatest Cheered on by Olympic Heroes
As the sun shined, the biggest AJ Bell Great Manchester Run in a decade saw over 35,000 runners fill the streets with colour.
Gladiator Stars Send 1500 Young Runners on Their Way in Manchester
Over 1500 children took part in the sold-out event, cheered on by family and friends.
AJ Bell Great Manchester Run 2025 Weekend of Running Begins
Manchester original and best loved running event the AJ Bell Great Manchester run takes over the streets this Sunday.
BBC Sport extends free broadcast rights for Great North and Great Manchester runs
BBC Sport and The Great Run Company have agreed a new deal to keep the iconic Great North Run and Great Manchester Run, free-to-air for audiences across the UK.
Running for Greatness: Olivia Nicholson
Meet 18-year-old Olivia, each step of her Great Manchester Run 10k journey will carry far more than athletic ambition - it carries memory, love, and purpose.
