The team working with British 800m runner Keely Hodgkinson has been instrumental in her rapid ascent, culminating in achievements like the BBC Sports Personality Coach of the Year awards for coaches Trevor Painter and Jenny Meadows in 2024. Their collaborative approach has significantly improved Hodgkinson's performance over seven years. When she began training with Painter, Hodgkinson's personal bests were 57 seconds for the 400m and 2:04.26 for the 800m. These times have since been lowered to 51.14 seconds and 1:54.33, respectively, establishing her as a leading figure in international athletics.
Beyond Hodgkinson
The coaching talent of Painter and Meadows is also evident in the resurgence of other athletes. Georgia Hunter Bell, who had stepped away from the sport for five years, reconnected with Painter in late 2022. Since then, she has secured six international medals, including an Olympic bronze, a world silver, and the world indoor 1500m title. Her success serves as a strong indicator of Painter's ability to develop athletes.
Expanding the Support Structure
The project's success has also attracted significant interest for support roles. Rachel McCormick, a physiologist with over 50 published research papers, was willing to relocate from Australia to join the team. Painter and Meadows confirmed that McCormick's expertise was valuable, dispelling any initial concerns about the justification for her move. McCormick joined the team in late 2025 and has since been analyzing athlete data to inform training strategies, focusing on individual responses to sessions, recovery, and adaptation. She noted that her role is to find marginal gains within the existing elite framework, rather than making drastic changes.
This comprehensive support system aims to optimize performance as Hodgkinson continues her pursuit of a world record in the 800m.