She was nineteen, she ran like lightning, but unlike her rivals she had no official backing. Keely Hodgkinson relied only on her parents, who already had their hands full with three other children. Then a man reached out and changed her life: a millionaire who believes it’s silly to die rich.
A talent the system overlooked
It was 2020, the pandemic. British Athletics decided not to add any new athletes to its prestigious World Class Performance Programme. That was when young runner Keely Hodgkinson of Leigh Harriers in Greater Manchester lost her chance of official support.
Her parents did what they could. They paid for training, competitions and equipment. But Keely needed more — money for training camps abroad, quality recovery and, above all, the peace of mind to focus fully on her dream.
Without official backing things looked bleak. “She was being funded by mum and dad, who had three other children, and I thought: this girl is so special I will become the National Lottery,” recalls Barrie Wells, a Liverpool businessman who ultimately decided to act.
The fairy godfather and his £15,000
Barrie Wells is no naive enthusiast. He himself ran 400 metres at club and national level in his youth. He made his money founding and selling financial companies. In 2008 he decided to use his wealth purposefully.
Keely was brought to his attention by former international Jenny Meadows and her husband Trevor Painter, who was Keely’s coach. “They told me: ‘This kid is so special,’” Wells remembers. “I watched her a few times at meets. I saw her win the UK indoor title in Glasgow, then the outdoor championship. But I wasn’t going to fund her until they told me she had no official money.”
Wells decided to top up the £15,000 a year Keely would have received from the lottery fund had she been in the programme. “I couldn’t believe she had no support. For God’s sake, after Dina Asher-Smith and Katarina Johnson-Thompson she was the biggest medal hope,” he says.
Someone this morning called me her godfather — I’m not sure exactly. But I never expected her to win. I thought she might be second or third. She’s fearless and has a fantastic finish. She runs faster than anyone in the world. An incredible performance.
Barrie Wells, sponsor and “fairy godfather” of Keely Hodgkinson
Road to the Olympics: Florida, updates and the finish
Thanks to Wells’s support, Keely was able to fly to Florida for a month-long training camp in April 2021. During that time she and Wells exchanged regular messages about workouts, times and rivals. “I wanted to be part of that journey,” Wells says. “I wanted to know what they were training, who their main competitors were and how she felt before a big race.”
Wells had accreditation for the Tokyo Olympics but, due to COVID restrictions, he ultimately stayed home in Lancashire. There he watched on television and “jumped about like a lunatic” when 19‑year‑old Keely secured a sensational silver in the 800 metres.
It was the only athletics medal for Great Britain at those Games. Wells says he will never forget it.
Why it’s foolish to die rich
Barrie Wells now supports other initiatives too, such as Box4Kids, which provides corporate boxes at sporting events for seriously ill children. His philosophy is simple:
It’s foolish to die rich when you can derive enormous pleasure from giving your money away.
Barrie Wells
Keely Hodgkinson, meanwhile, kept collecting achievements. At the Paris 2024 Olympics she went on to win gold. And Wells? He still follows her career, still cheers her on, and still says that being there while a talent grows is the best thing his money has ever bought him.
Conclusion: Belief in talent is the best investment
Keely Hodgkinson’s story is about more than running. It shows that sometimes one person’s belief is enough. Not every form of support must come from the state or big brands. Sometimes it comes from an ordinary — and yet extraordinary — entrepreneur who refuses to watch talent starve.
A takeaway for Sponza.cz readers
If you have the means and you see talent around you — don’t be afraid to support it. You don’t have to set up a fund or write a huge cheque. One specific help to one specific person can be enough. It might be training, equipment or simply covering travel costs. The result may surprise you more than any financial investment.
Author: Sponza Editorial Team
Photograph: (illustrative – Keely Hodgkinson running)
