BBC left red-faced as viewers highlight awkward moment before Keely Hodgkinson won gold | Other | Sport

BBC bosses were red-faced during Keely Hodgkinson’s sensational 800m triumph at the Olympics on day 10 as a broadcast blunder was spotted before the victory celebration.

Hodgkinson, 22, delivered a flawless race to snatch the gold medal from rivals Tsige Duguma of Ethiopia and Kenya’s Mary Moraa. However, the BBC coverage didn’t quite match up to her standout performance.

As anticipation grew for the night’s highlight event in Paris, cameras panned to Hodgkinsons supporters at Leigh Athletics Club.

The expected lively cheers and waves as the crowd spotted themselves on TV screens didn’t materialise this time. Gabby Logan was forced to navigate through an uncomfortable silence as viewers speculated that ‘they’re all watching Eurosport’.

“There at Leigh Harriers, are her club who nutured her talent, who have been with her all the way,” Logan pointed out during the live feed. “Hopefully they can see themselves, or they’re watching another channel.

“Give us a wave Leigh Harriers. Maybe they’re on the wrong channel. Will someone call them and let them know Keeley is about to run on BBC One?”

Unfortunately, the club’s response was underwhelming, giving strength to suggestions that they might be tuned into Eurosport or experiencing a substantial iPlayer delay.

Following the result, British champion Keely Hodgkinson, who clinched Olympic silver in Tokyo, was ecstatic. She anticipates being overwhelmed during the medal ceremony.

“I think that’s when [medal ceremony] it will sink in and you’ll see some emotion from me,” she shared with the BBC post-race. “That was absolutely incredible, I’ve worked so hard for this over the last year and you saw how much it meant to be when I crossed the line! “And doing it here, where better?

“It felt like a home crowd despite it being in Paris, so I’m super happy.

“I wanted to be up at the front, probably going a bit quicker at the bell, but with the semi and final being back to back I think people were tired. It’s tough, I wanted to save myself for the last 100 and trust myself.

“I could feel Mary pushing me on the back straight, but…composure and we got over the line first this time. ” “I’m now the Olympic champion for the next four years and nobody can take that away from me and I can’t believe it.”