Record chase stops Keely standing still

GOLDEN GIRL'S GREATEST BID

- Alan Smith

KEELY finished her lap of honour.

HODGKINSON had not yet But in a clammy room at Stade de France her coaches were already talking about the future for Britain's latest Olympic champion.

The women's 800m world record may be the track's longest surviving - set by Jarmila Kratochvilova in 1983 - but Trevor Painter and Jenny Meadows have been convinced for some time that Hodgkinson can eclipse the Czech's 1min 53.28secs.

It might take another couple of years, but as Hodgkinson bathed in the glory of Paris, they were already laying out their designs for domination.

There was zero hint of arrogance about their aspirations for the 22-year-old, just an awareness that she is a talent like no other.

Meadows said: "She has always said, quite shyly, she wants to be one of the greatest ever."

Fast forward to now and Hodgkinson, who is expected to be crowned Sports Personality of the Year tonight, is as comfortable looking forward as she is reflecting on a year when she won all nine 800m races and clocked 1:54.61, the sixth-fastest time in history.