British Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson debuted a new custom Nike full-body catsuit at an unofficial meeting, which she defended after stating she felt as though she had nothing on while racing, The Sun reported.
Keely Hodgkinson Debuts Custom Nike Catsuit in London
The outfit features a form-fitting design with an open back and an elegant hood, drawing comparisons to a sleek athletic superhero look on the track.
The garment’s grand unveiling was delayed by two months due to a minor injury. Hodgkinson originally planned to showcase the catsuit earlier in the summer at the Diamond League meeting at the London Stadium in Stratford in front of a crowd of 59,000 fans. However, she tripped over a metal grating and bruised her knee prior to the start, postponing the debut until the unofficial Athlos meeting.
Trainer Jenny Meadows Details the Athlete Reaction
Hodgkinson’s trainer, Jenny Meadows, spoke to Athletics Weekly about the athlete’s enthusiasm for the specialized apparel. Meadows explained that the runner was ecstatic when she first saw the suit and had already completed a marketing campaign for it, convinced that the aerodynamic design would help her run faster.
“When he [sic] first saw the suit, she was thrilled,” Meadows told Athletics Weekly, recounting her athlete’s mindset. “She completed the whole marketing campaign and was sure she could run even faster in it. Keely is a fashion icon. She was all the more sorry that she couldn’t show it off at the Olympic stadium.”
Meadows added that once Hodgkinson finally wore the suit in competition, she was overjoyed. “She told me that the catsuit is so light that she feels like she isn’t wearing anything at all, and yet she can move freely,” Meadows said.
Olympic Restrictions and Future Racing Gear
While Hodgkinson is permitted to wear the specially designed Nike catsuit at most standard meetings and independent events, she will not be able to wear it at the upcoming Olympic Games in Los Angeles in two years. The British national athletics team maintains a long-standing sponsorship and partnership agreement with rival sportswear brand Adidas, requiring athletes to wear official federation kit during Games competition.
Until the Los Angeles Games arrive, Hodgkinson retains ample opportunity to wear the outfit in global competition. Observers note that the gear may aid her pursuit of historic milestones, potentially bringing her closer to the longstanding 800-meter world record held by Jarmila Kratochvílová, as Hodgkinson currently holds the sixth-fastest time in history over the distance.
Worth a look
