\n<\/p>\n
It is in the French capital where Hodgkinson will again battle rivals Athing Mu and Mary Moraa in pursuit of an elusive global gold. <\/p>\n
It was Mu, 21, who beat the Briton to Olympic gold in Tokyo, and then pipped her to the world title by 0.08 seconds in 2022. When Hodgkinson at last got the better of the American at last year’s worlds, she suffered a repeat of her Commonwealth Games loss to 23-year-old Kenyan Moraa.<\/p>\n
Before Paris, Hodgkinson will aim to make an early statement when the ‘big three’ of the women’s 800m go head-to-head at the Prefontaine Classic, which doubles as the Eugene Diamond League, live on BBC Three from 21:00 BST on Saturday.<\/p>\n
“Unfortunately, I’ve been second every time. But we’re going to try and change that,” says Hodgkinson.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it’s a good rivalry. It’s quite exciting for us all because we’re all so young, we’re all really talented, we work hard and we all really want it.<\/p>\n
“We don’t race each other that often so, when we do, it’s a big occasion.”<\/p>\n
While that showdown will be Hodgkinson’s first 800m of the season, she hinted last week at the progress she has made over the winter by setting a new 400m personal best of 51.61 seconds.<\/p>\n
Often left floored by the gruelling sessions she has been put through by coaches Trevor Painter and Jenny Meadows in pursuit of her goal throughout warm weather training in South Africa, Hodgkinson’s streak of silvers have only intensified her determination to celebrate a gold at the Stade de France on 5 August.<\/p>\n
“I feel like I’ve really grown up and I have a lot of experience now. I\u2019m really excited,” Hodgkinson says.<\/p>\n
“I’ve spent three years trying to find those little tiny one per cents. I\u2019ve trained so much harder than I did three years ago and I just hope that it’s enough. <\/p>\n
“All I can do is give it my all. It would mean a lot if that [dream of winning gold] was to come true.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n