Keely Hodgkinson at the 2023 European Indoor Championships in Istanbul looking towards a circle inset of the London Stadium
Credit: Wikipedia Commons and Imago
Max Wilkins
Thu 26 March 2026 10:10, UK
Keely Hodgkinson certainly isn’t the biggest fan of West Ham United right now – or more specifically, the club’s London Stadium stance that could derail a Team GB bid.
The Team GB icon is a middle-distance runner and a reigning Olympic champion after winning gold in the 800m in 2024.
She has most recently won gold in the same event at the 2026 World Athletics Indoor Championships, setting the second-fastest indoor time in history.
At 24 years old, she is already a highly decorated athlete and is highly influential within the world athletics community.
That is unlikely to benefit West Ham after Hodgkinson hit out at the claret and blue outfit as they refuse to change their stance on the London Stadium.
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West Ham could end London hopes of hosting the 2029 World Athletics Championship
A showpiece event of the athletics calendar may be on its way to the capital in 2029, as London prepares a bid for three years’ time.
The championships were most recently held in Tokyo, Japan, with the next instalment already booked in for Beijing, China, in 2027.
Year Host city Venue
2027* Beijing, China Beijing National Stadium
2025 Tokyo, Japan Japan National Stadium
2023 Budapest, Hungary National Athletics Centre
2022 Eugene, USA Hayward Field
2019 Doha, Qatar Khalifa International Stadium
Last five World Athletics Championship host cities
The United Kingdom have thrown their name into the ring, but West Ham could prove to be the party poopers.
Initial submissions to hold the event must be submitted by 3 April, but the Hammers are refusing to give up the London Stadium for the championships mid-season.
Plans suggest that the former Olympic Stadium would be vacated for three weeks in September 2029, but there is no contractual obligation for the Irons to agree.
World Athletics wants to hold the event to mark the close of the traditional track and field season, but the claret and blue outfit is refusing to back down.
Their lease from Greater London Authority Holdings means football takes priority over any other events during the season, according to the Daily Mail.
West Ham could even face relegation before then, but they are currently coming under scrutiny for their unwillingness to change their stance, as Hodgkinson leads the charge.
Keely Hodgkinson takes medal swipe at West Ham
It seems clear that the East London club are working within their contractual rights to put their own interests first.
West Ham could negatively impact their own campaign if they are to simply step aside and vacate their own stadium for nearly a month at the beginning of the season.
It doesn’t appear that the athletics community cares, with Hodgkinson taking to X to poke fun at West Ham in the midst of their London Stadium stance.
She said: “The GB team will bring back more medals to that stadium than West Ham have seen in their entire history.”
It is unlikely that her message is going to help proceedings as the Hammers look likely to remain stern in their position.
With Rome and Munich also tabling offers to host the 2029 World Athletics Championship, it looks as if the Hammers will have the last laugh.