Keely Hodgkinson's Savage Jab At West Ham Is Fair Play
Look, sometimes an athlete just says what everyone else is thinking. That’s what happened when Team GB track sensation Keely Hodgkinson took a little shot at West Ham. The context? Reports swirling that the Hammers might throw a wrench into London's 2029 World Athletics Championships bid. Hodgkinson, a silver medalist in the 800m at both the Tokyo Olympics and the 2022 World Championships, didn't mince words, quipping that West Ham "don't win anything anyway." Harsh? Maybe. But also, kinda true, if you're talking about consistent, top-tier silverware.
The Hammers' Trophy Cabinet Is… Sparse
Let's be real, West Ham isn't exactly dripping in trophies. Their last major domestic honor was the FA Cup back in 1980, a 1-0 win over Arsenal. Before that, it was the FA Cup in 1975 and the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1965. Their most recent glimmer of hope came with the 2023 Europa Conference League title, a 2-1 victory against Fiorentina. That was a big moment for the club, no doubt, ending a 43-year drought, but it’s not exactly a sustained period of dominance. For a club that calls the 62,500-seat London Stadium home, a venue purpose-built for the 2012 Olympics, the silverware collection feels a little light. Hodgkinson, who ran a personal best of 1:55.77 in the 800m last year, knows a thing or two about performing on the biggest stages and coming away with hardware. Her playful jab highlights a frustration many have with clubs who occupy world-class facilities but struggle to consistently fill them with success.
Athletics Needs Its Stage
Here’s the thing: London hosting the World Athletics Championships again would be massive for the sport in the UK. We saw the magic of 2017 when the city last hosted, drawing huge crowds and creating unforgettable moments, like Mo Farah's final track race. The London Stadium, with its adaptable seating, is perfect for it. The hold-up, apparently, is West Ham's desire to keep playing home games during the proposed August 2029 window. That creates a logistical nightmare for converting the stadium from football pitch to athletics track and back again. It's a classic clash between football's year-round demands and athletics' need for a dedicated, high-quality venue for a few weeks. My hot take? West Ham should absolutely make concessions for the World Athletics Championships. One or two away games, or even a temporary shift to another London stadium, is a small price to pay for the prestige and economic boost the event brings to the capital. They got a sweetheart deal on the stadium in the first place; they can give a little back.
A Bigger Picture Than Just Football
Hodgkinson’s comment, while cheeky, taps into a larger sentiment. Elite track and field athletes, who dedicate their lives to shaving milliseconds off their times, often feel overshadowed by the behemoth that is professional football. They train relentlessly, like Hodgkinson eyeing Paris 2024, where she'll be a favorite for gold. For them, a home World Championships isn't just another event; it's a chance to inspire the next generation, to fill seats with fans who might not otherwise follow the sport, and to showcase their incredible talent on home turf. To have that jeopardized by a football club's scheduling preferences feels, to many, a bit tone-deaf. West Ham needs to look beyond their matchday revenue for a few weeks and consider the legacy of sport in London.
I predict West Ham will ultimately compromise, allowing London to bid successfully for the 2029 World Athletics Championships.