May the U.Okay.’s subsequent main observe star be a member of the royal household? On Tuesday, throughout an investiture ceremony on the Windsor Citadel, Prince William revealed that his 10-year-old daughter, Princess Charlotte of Wales, has taken up the 400m and hurdles.
William shared the information whereas honouring Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson with the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). The celebrated honour, appointed by King Charles in December, acknowledges Hodgkinson’s excellent contributions to British athletics.
“The prince advised me his daughter is doing the 400m and the hurdles and that she did watch me in Paris,” Hodgkinson mentioned. “He advised me that he remembers me profitable and that he wished he may very well be there to see it himself.”
William opted to not attend final yr’s Olympics in Paris to guard the well being of his spouse, the Princess of Wales, who was present process most cancers remedy on the time.
Princess Charlotte’s rising curiosity in athletics comes as no shock. The younger royal has already dabbled in rugby, soccer and gymnastics, and seems to have inherited her aggressive spirit and athleticism from her mom, who has lengthy been energetic in lots of sports activities and excelled in tennis and area hockey whereas rising up.
Is Hodgkinson again on the observe?
It’s been an enormous yr for the runner; in December, the 23-year-old was named BBC Sports activities Persona of the Yr, changing into the primary observe athlete to win since Mo Farah received in 2017, and the primary feminine observe athlete to win since 2004.
However in February, a sudden hamstring harm compelled Hodgkinson to withdraw on the final minute from her personal meet, the Keely Klassic, the place she was slated to problem the indoor 800m world file.
Now, she’s able to return. Hodgkinson is about to compete in subsequent month’s Stockholm Diamond League–her first race since Paris. “The hamstring progressed properly and we took our time with it,” she mentioned. “We now have had no issues thus far, which has been actually constructive. [We’re] again in full coaching, doing every part.”
“I’m nonetheless 4 or 5 weeks away from opening my season however I’m wanting ahead to it,” she continued. “It’s an enormous race, it’s principally an Olympic remaining once more.”
