Katarina Johnson-Thompson: Paris 2024 Olympics heptathlon silver medallist glad she ‘didn’t give up’
Johnson-Thompson described her second global heptathlon triumph in Budapest last year as “the best day of my life” after she defended a narrow lead over favourite Anna Hall to complete a remarkable turnaround in her career.
With expectations raised, it was time for redemption on the sport’s biggest stage.
London 2012 represented a learning experience for the teenage Johnson-Thompson, who finished 13th as Ennis-Hill won gold on an unforgettable Super Saturday for Team GB, but it was sixth place in Rio that she felt marked a missed opportunity.
It even caused her to question whether she wanted to continue – long before the unfortunate events of Tokyo.
“Rio 2016 was mental exhaustion. Tokyo 2020 was physical exhaustion,” Johnson-Thompson said.
“After both of those Olympics, I wanted to give up for different reasons, but I’m glad I didn’t.
“I’m so happy with the last three years and the team around me. I wouldn’t be on the start line without them.”
Speaking on BBC TV, Ennis-Hill said of Johnson-Thompson: “I remember in Rio after we competed, she was almost ready to stop there. She had just had enough.
“But she kept going for two more Olympics. It’s so hard to put into words how challenging that is and how well she has done.”
In Paris, those 12 years of global championship experience were channelled into putting the record straight.
Johnson-Thompson produced a personal best in the shot put, by far one of her weakest disciplines, to remain in gold medal contention, before running the 800m of her life as she amassed the second-best score of her career in pursuit of the ultimate prize.
Wearing a beaming smile, a silver tiara on her head and with a Union Jack draped over her shoulders, the achievement of going so close to gold at all was not lost on her for a second as Thiam’s victory was confirmed.
Even this year there had been concern surrounding preparations after Johnson-Thompson withdrew from the European Championships in June with a minor leg issue, having contested only three events but already fallen behind Thiam.
That was a necessary sacrifice to make as she went after the one prize she desperately desired.
“I’m very grateful and emotional. I’m feeling overwhelmed. I’ve got no regrets,” Johnson-Thompson said on Friday evening.
“I’m just trying to take it all in and live in the moment. It’s the ultimate relief.
“I was running for gold, but to be honest I had such mixed emotions that I was sort of grieving gold but also fighting for gold. Then I was celebrating silver. So many mixed emotions.
“Just to be on the podium is such an honour. Olympic cycles can be brutal, and I know that more than anyone.”
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