Is Keely Hodgkinson Deaf in One Ear? Debunking Myths About the British Middle-Distance Runner

By Jayson Panganiban August 12, 2024 06:01

Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

One of the brightest British middle-distance running talents, Keely Hodgkinson, burst onto the scenes for her incredible racing abilities and, most importantly, due to a remarkable journey back from major health problems. Having earned the silver medal in Tokyo 2020 and a gold medal in Paris four years later, Hodgkinson is emerging as one of athletics' standout performers. But reports that she had been unwell, specifically with hearing problems, swirled in the media and among supporters.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by World Athletics (@worldathletics)

Who is Keely Hodgkinson?

Keely Hodgkinson's birth date is March 3, 2002. Hailing from Atherton (Greater Manchester), England, she started participating in sports early. She first went to Leigh Harriers at nine, where she excelled in various sports, including swimming. Although her initial interests were in gymnastics and ice hockey, she was recruited to become a runner as her passion for running swiftly overtook any sports she once pursued. Hodgkinson won her first national title by the age of 15.

Hodgkinson has experienced a rapid ascent from underdog to silver medal winner; her breakthrough came when she claimed second place in the women's 800 meters at the Tokyo Olympics, where victory put her atop the podium as Britain's youngest female Olympic medalist over this distance. Then, in 2022 and 2023, she adds two silver medals at the World Championships to complete her astonishing performance until reaching gold at the Paris Olympics.

The Reality of Hodgkinson's Hearing

A long-standing rumor to touch on this is that Hodgkinson is deaf in one ear. The claim dates back to her diagnosis at age 13 of cholesteatoma, a non-cancerous tumor. The tumor created myriad health problems, such as only partial hearing in one ear and temporary balance and motor issues resulting from surgery to extract the mass.

Hodgkinson has previously been candid about her tumor, citing in interviews that it had been growing inside for ten years and was starting to alter not only their health but his hearing. The surgery, a mastoidectomy, was needed to keep the tumor from threatening Keely's neck and face. She's two vertebrae away from quadriplegia or at risk of facial paralysis. She lost much of the hearing in one ear after surgery, with it having an impact on her years as a competitive athlete.

How This Affected Hodgkinson's Career

The spread of misinformation helps his or her career, drains, and deforms public image and personal life. Hodgkinson said that her hearing loss and health issues if discovered by the rumor mill set loose in a small town could easily lead to suspicions about what she would be able to accomplish. However, those challenges have only motivated her, and she has results that suggest that Keely is already a world-class competitor.

This is important for athletes like Hodgkinson, battling misconceptions; straightening such controversies could be more beneficial. As she tells her tale, Hodgkinson sheds light on the struggles that athletes with health considerations have to overcome and serves as inspiration for others who want to pursue their dreams in the face of adversity.

Throughout her own words and experiences, some of the myths about how she runs anything from deaf in one ear to other health issues have recently been clarified. Her story is a triumphant one that serves as an important reminder to all that she keeps breaking records and taking home medals, illustrating the power of determination in beating impossible circumstances.