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Keely Hodgkinson had been preparing for this moment for years.

When she stepped on to the indoor track in France on Thursday, the Briton and her team “had no doubt” she was going to break the 800m indoor world record – and she did so in some style.

But it has not all been plain sailing for Hodgkinson since she won the Olympic 800m title at Paris 2024.

The 23-year-old suffered injury issues last year which challenged her physically and mentally – but has used those setbacks to return even stronger, with her training group, the M11 Track Club, dubbing her ‘Keely 2.0’.

She proved she is back to her best with her stunning indoor run in Lievin, crossing the line in one minute 54.87 seconds to smash a world record which had stood since 3 March 2002 – the day Hodgkinson was born.

Since 2019, Hodgkinson has trained with coaches Trevor Painter and Jenny Meadows in Manchester.

Meadows, a former international runner, was in France to watch her protege take almost a second off the 800m indoor record, set by Slovenia’s Jolanda Ceplak almost 24 years ago.

“She actually said to me the day before: ‘obviously I know I’m going to get it’,” said Meadows.

“There had been so many benchmarks we measure in training, we had no doubt that she would do it.

“Her biggest fear was to set a world record, but be disappointed with the time. She said ‘what if I can’t smile? What if I’ve got the world record, and everyone’s so excited, and I think, oh that was rubbish. I could have gone faster’?”

The date – 19 February 2026 – had long been set in the diary by Meadows and Hodgkinson given the track in Lievin is notoriously fast.

“Lievin has had a lot of world records over the years, and we kind of thought ‘you know what, let’s go with the statistics’,” Meadows said.

“We’re only probably going to get one opportunity during this indoor season to go for it. So that’s the event that we picked, and that’s the date we’ve really had etched in our minds the last three months.”

“I’ve got to say, the time she did was the bare minimum of what she was happy with,” Meadows added.

Meadows retired from the sport in 2016. As a former world and European medallist over 800m, she knew exactly what was required to make history.

“800m is so tough, your body is literally breaking down from the training,” she said.

“Keely can be doing certain repetitions, and she’s being physically sick from the lactic acid. It’s a little bit inhumane at times.”

In the build-up to Thursday’s race, Meadows said the team learned lessons from previous years, and resisted the urge to do too much training with Hodgkinson – instead believing in the process and their athlete.

“Keely is a really interesting character. I was quite robotic and could follow a routine. Keely keeps us on our toes. We have to keep her interested. So we’re always trying to do little different goals for her.”

Nine months ago the success experienced in Lievin would have felt like a distant dream for Hodgkinson.

She had planned a tilt at the 800m indoor world record at her eponymous Keely Klassic event in February 2025 and “was in great shape”, according to Meadows.

However, a hamstring problem forced Hodgkinson to withdraw, regroup and retrain – only for the injury to reoccur 12 weeks later.

Despite setbacks and a reduction in training, she made it to the start line for September’s World Athletics Championships, claiming bronze behind GB team-mate Georgia Hunter Bell and winner Kenya’s Lilian Odira.

“It was phenomenal, given the very little preparation [Hodgkinson] did but I doubt she’s ever looked at that medal again. She wants the gold, she wants the records, and that is what was driving her forward,” said Meadows.

In under a month Hodgkinson will head to Poland to compete in the World Athletics Indoor Championships as a firm favourite for gold.

Beyond that there is another target in her sights – the world record that has stood longer than any other in athletics.

In July 1983, Czech athlete Jarmila Kratochvilova set a women’s outdoor 800m world record in a time of 1:53.28.

But 43 years on, Hodgkinson wants to beat that mark and make more history.

“She wants that more than the indoor record. Her ambition is to be a legend of the sport,” said Meadows.

Kratochvilova’s time remains more than a second quicker than Hodgkinson’s current personal best of 1:54.61, a national record she set in London in 2024.

Her coach believes London could be the scene of what would be arguably Hodgkinson’s greatest achievement.

“I think she would like to do it in the UK. London always delivers a great crowd, a great occasion. In 2026 I think she can definitely run under 1:54…

Milan-Cortina 2026 has been one of the most eventful Winter Olympics in history – in sporting and political terms – so it is appropriate that the final medal event could be the most enticing of all.

Canada and United States have been the two best teams in the men’s ice hockey competition, and they will duke it out at Milano Santagiulia Arena on Sunday at 13.10 GMT.

For two of the most storied nations in the sport, however, they have very different Olympic histories.

Canada are aiming to be the first nation to earn 10 men’s ice hockey gold medals, most recently winning the title in 2014.

USA meanwhile have not claimed the men’s title since 1980 – the ‘Miracle on Ice’ triumph over Soviet Union in Lake Placid – and have not beaten Canada in a men’s final since 1960.

Canada have beaten the American men in their past two Olympic final meetings – Salt Lake City 2002 and Vancouver 2010. But the USA are looking for a double in Milan after their women’s side defeated the Canadians on Thursday.

The two teams did not have a totally smooth skate to this point. Both needed overtime to win their quarter-finals, while Canada had to come from 2-0 down to beat Finland 3-2 in Friday’s semi-final on Friday, scoring the winner with 35 seconds on the clock.

The Canadians also have fitness issues. They could be without captain Sidney Crosby, who was forced off in their last eight win over Czech Republic with a knee injury and missed the Finland semi. Canada are hopeful to have him for Sunday, but he certainly will not be 100% fit.

The squad has also been afflicted by a sickness bug, which dramatically revealed itself in the quarter-final when Nathan MacKinnon threw up while sat on the bench.

But even when impacted by injury and illness, Canada still have the strongest team.

“In Connor McDavid you have the best player on the planet by a million miles,” ice hockey commentator Seth Bennett told BBC Sport. “He was averaging three points a game going into semi-finals.

“McKinnon is another superstar offensive player. Defensively, Cale Makar is the best defenceman in the world and a gamechanger. All will be judged against him.

“You mix them up and it’s like if you have a computer game and you put all the best players on one team.”

USA meanwhile have stars of their own, but don’t have the attacking gifts of the Canadians.

“The Tkachuk brothers [Brady and Matthew], and Jack Eichel, that attacking line has worked well together,” Bennett said.

“What they have not had is much scoring from captain Auston Matthews, he has not yet taken any of the games by the horns. They are OK, but not more than that.”

However, the Americans have the best defenceman at the Games in Quinn Hughes, who scored the crucial winner against Sweden.

“He might be the best three-on-three player in the world,” said Bennett. “He loves to keep possession, and is always looking to make an exciting play.”

It sets up a mouth-watering finale of an Olympic ice hockey competition which has benefitted hugely from the return of National Hockey League (NHL) players for the first time since 2014.

The attendance of players from the top North American league was in doubt for a time over concerns about the ice quality at the unfinished Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, but they have been a major boon for the Games.

“This is the highest level of hockey we have ever seen at an Olympics,” said Bennett. “The NHL players have made it a different world.

“At the last two Olympics, games have been good but have missed the quality in the final third, the big moments. Players didn’t have the skillset to break a game, so saw a lot of tight, dull games

“Some of what the players have been doing here has been mind-blowing. One of the goals scored for Canada, McDavid saucered this pass from the back door [behind the goal], it lands as McKinnon is shooting, on the half-volley. That’s when you recognise it.

“I have been getting phone calls from people in the hockey world, all they have been saying is, this is so good. There have been periods where Kent [Simpson, BBC co-commentator] and I have just been sat watching, smiling, laughing.”

Canada have won gold in three of the five Olympics when NHL players have featured and will fancy their chances in a game on Sunday which could be as fascinating in the stands as it is on the ice.

It is highly likely that Canadian prime minister Mark Carney will be in Milan for the game.

Not only is Canada as a country hockey-mad, but so is Carney – when working as governor of the Bank of England, he would play for a recreational team in Haringey, north London.

The BBC understands that, as of Friday afternoon, Donald Trump is scheduled to remain in Washington DC – but that could now change.

It would be a logistical and security nightmare for the International Olympic Committee should he attend, and it would add a major frisson to an already charged game.

Trump’s vice president JD Vance attended a USA group stage game, and the Olympic opening ceremony at San Siro where he was loudly booed when he appeared on the stadium’s big screen.

And the presence of Trump – who previously said he will impose tariffs on imported goods from Canada, while also floating the idea of their northern neighbours becoming the US’s 51st state – would turn the Santagiulia Arena into a political cauldron.

His impact was seen in February 2025, when the Four Nations match between the United States and Canada descended into chaos with three fights breaking out between players in the first nine seconds.

The crowd at Montreal’s Bell Centre for that game loudly booed the US national anthem pre-game – an issue which will be avoided in Milan. What happens after the game depends on the victor.

And Bennett thinks the heightened stakes and occasion will mean a less pugilistic occasion.

“There won’t be a repeat of the fights with a gold medal on the line,” he said. “They will be at each other though; in every break in play, there will be a cross-check, a word, a push, a scrum.

“Then when they fly back, they will fly on the same private jets because the NHL will put on transport.

“For example, you have Matthew Tkachuk for USA and Brad Marchand for Canada, who are both rink rats, they will go head-to-head 100%. Then they will be on the same flight, they are Florida Panthers teammates and will try to win the Stanley Cup together.”

The crowd may also be less tense due to the likelihood of more neutrals buying tickets for an Olympic spectacle, rather than a potential grudge match.

So, if you are a neutral going to the game, who does Seth think you should support?

“Canada going for their 10th gold, so usually the neutral will go with the underdog,” he says. “But that is USA.

“Canada are a bit arrogant too, but they have all the favourite players. How do you not love a team with all those players?

Wolves teenager Mateus Mane looks certain to leave Molineux, Liam Delap is wanted on Merseyside and Casemiro has interest from Europe as well as North and South America.

Wolves are resigned to losing Mateus Mane this summer, with Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal keen on the 18-year-old England Youth international. (Caughtoffside)

Everton have made Chelsea striker Liam Delap their top summer target. The 23-year-old Englishman only arrived at Stamford Bridge last summer from Ipswich Town. (Football Insider)

Robbie Keane, currently managing Hungary’s Ferencvaros, is a contender to replace Oliver Glasner as Crystal Palace boss. (Talksport)

As he prepares to leave Manchester United at the end of the season, Brazil international midfielder Casemiro, 33, has drawn interest from Inter Miami, Porto and Sao Paulo. (Sun)

Aston Villa‘s £35m obligation to buy midfielder Harvey Elliott from Liverpool following his season-long loan can only be triggered by Premier League appearances. The 22-year-old Englishman has played four times in the league so far. (Sky Sports)

Meanwhile, Aston Villa‘s chances of keeping hold of English forward Morgan Rogers, 23, will not depend on them qualifying for the Champions League. (Football Insider)

Lennart Karl will sign a new deal with Bayern Munich when he turns 18 this Sunday, heading off interest in the Germany Under-21 international from Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Paris St-Germain. (Teamtalk)

Xavier Vilajoana has initiated contact over the possible signing of Bayern Munich and England striker Harry Kane, 32, should he win Barcelona’s presidential candidate election next month. (ESPN)