World Athletics Championships 2025: Lilian Odira Out to Upset the 800m Hierarchy Led by Keely Hodgkinson

Lilian Odira believes the women’s 800m at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, is going to be an uphill task.

Fast times have already been dropped, with Lilian Odira also clocking a personal best time of 1:56.52 at the Diamond League Meeting in Silesia.

Reigning Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson was opening her season at the event, and she clocked a stunning 1:54.74 to win the race.

Lilian Odira has now opened up about the stakes awaiting her in the 800m, and how competing with Keely Hodgkinson gave her a feel of what to expect at the World Championships.

The two-time national champion revealed that making her World Championships is a dream come true, owing to the fact that she started taking track and field seriously last season.

Lilian Odira made it to the Paris Olympic Games, where she finished fourth in the semifinal and could not proceed to the final.

Now, heading to the World Championships in Tokyo, Japan, she understands the tough competition awaiting her, but she is confident of making the final and hopefully finishing on the podium.

“It feels nice, I thank God, I think this is a great honour. I started my career last year, and it has been a smooth one. I’m very grateful and happy,” Lilian Odira admitted.

She added that clocking a personal best time in Silesia behind Keely Hodgkinson is a source of motivation as she looks to impress this time around.

Lilian Odira revealed that currently, she is doing some final touches on her speed, affirming that her endurance is perfect.

Speaking about fast times, Lilian Odira noted that when competing in a major championship, it is difficult to focus on times, and going into Tokyo, her main target is on medalling.

“I’m very motivated, especially after the time that I ran in Silesia, I ran a PB and got a 1:56, and that’s a strong time. It places me fourth so far this season in the whole world, and I think I’m motivated and ready to do better,” Lilian Odira revealed.

“I’ve been working on my speed recently because I did a lot of endurance, and I can testify that my endurance is perfect, and it’s just a little bit of speedwork and sharpening.

“This is a championship, we can’t talk about time in Tokyo, let’s see it first, and then get to the final and see how things will go. Tokyo is going to be tough because when you look at the 800m, we have fast times.”

With her recent personal best fueling her confidence and the experience of racing the very best in the world, Lilian Odira heads to Tokyo with belief, focus, and the dream of turning her breakthrough into a historic moment on the global stage.