SMILE! THE MEDALS JUST KEEP ON COMING

Keely’s tears of joy as Team GB wins 8 medals

- Paul Je ves

TEARS of joy ruined the eyelashes Keely Hodgkinson had delicately curled just moments before running the race of her life on Team GB’s greatest day at the Tokyo Olympics yesterday.

The 19-year-old sensation’s world will never be the same again after she smashed Dame Kelly Holmes’ 26-year-old British record in the 800metres to seize a silver medal – as a further eight medals took the nation’s haul to 43.

Trying to speak through the tears, Keely dedicated her success to parents Rachael, a former bank worker, dad Dean, who has a metal fabricating firm, and sisters Tilly, Jessica and brother Sam.

The Wigan flyer said: “It is our medal. I cannot always go on holiday with my family, sometimes they don’t go away and make sure I am rested and training well.

“I know my sister will be crying, my parents will be crying, they will be proud of me. My friends are going to be like: ‘What is she crying for?’ It means so much.”

Keely’s coach Jenny Meadows, who won world bronze in 2009, tweeted a picture of the teenager curling her eyelashes in the build-up to the race. She said: “I have become accustomed to discussing race plans whilst she is doing her makeup #relaxed.”

Keely’s success was part of Terrific Tuesday with Team GB winning two sailing golds, four further silvers across sailing, cycling and boxing and a diving bronze.