The 800m world record, held by Jarmila Kratochvilova since 1983 with a time of 1:53.28, is now widely considered likely to be broken. This expectation follows exceptional performances by athletes including Keely Hodgkinson, Audrey Werro, and Femke Broeders-Bol.
Audrey Werro has had a notable summer season in 2026, winning 14 of her 15 races. Her performances include three 800m outings that rank among the five fastest times ever recorded. Werro achieved a time of 1:53.98 in Stockholm on 7 June and has since lowered it twice to 1:53.70, also becoming European champion.
Keely Hodgkinson, the Olympic champion, ran a personal best of 1:54.33 in June, placing her sixth on the all-time list. She has raced less frequently due to a fall that caused gashes to her knee and subsequent undefined issues. Femke Broeders-Bol, a 400m hurdles specialist, has also emerged as a contender, with a personal best of 1:54.71, making her the ninth fastest woman ever.
The inaugural Ultimate Championships in Budapest this weekend will see these athletes compete, though the chances of the record falling there are reportedly reduced by the absence of pacers and the timing late in a long season. This three-way rivalry is anticipated to continue for years, with Hodgkinson aged 24, Werro 22, and Broeders-Bol 26 in her rookie 800m campaign.