Katarina Johnson-Thompson avenges Olympic heartbreak to win heptathlon silver

By James Toney in Paris

THOSE damned Olympic Gods, from Apollo to Zeus Katarina Johnson-Thompson was starting to fear she'd wronged them somehow.

But Achilles prized bravery and Johnson-Thompson has that quality above all others, winning heptathlon silver to finally make the podium.

The two-time world champion has long had a difficult relationship with these Games dating back to her teens.

With the focus all on Jess Ennis-Hill, there were little expectations when she made her debut in London but she still considers her sixth place in Rio a 'missed opportunity'.

Three years ago, in Tokyo, she was injured in the build-up, nursed herself through three events and then tore a calf muscle in the 200m.

She jogged across the line, to a smattering of applause in the empty stadium, only to be disqualified.

This season has been overshadowed by more injury struggles, including a withdrawal from the European Championships in Rome which made Paris her first heptathlon of the season.

Johnson-Thompson took a 121-point deficit into the decisive 800m, meaning she needed to beat Belgium's Nafi Thiam by an improbable nine seconds.

She recorded a huge 2:04.90 personal best but Thiam, who very nearly fell after 200m, was just under six seconds behind.

Johnson-Thompson's final score across the seven events was 6,844, the second best of her career.

"I can't even describe the words, I'm just so relieved and so happy to add an Olympic medal to my collection," said Johnson-Thompson.

"It's the only one I didn't have. It's been so hard getting back to this point. In the lead up to this Games, all I've been saying is I wanted to have a chance.

"I can't complain, there was a chance of gold in that 800m but we both ran personal bests, so what more can you do?

"I wanted to compete and be able to respond. I knew I was in good shape physically, mentally and emotionally. I've proven to myself I have competitive energy when things gets tense. I'm just so happy with how everything went, I have no complaints."

Thiam must now surely be considered the greatest multi-eventer of all time. Jackie Joyner-Kersee won two golds and a silver while Daley Thompson, Robert Mathias and Ashton Eaton are two-time gold medallists in decathlon.

Thiam has been to three Olympics and returned from every one with a gold, only the second woman athlete to achieve that feat after Polish hammer thrower Anita Wlodarczyk.

She is two years younger than the Liverpool athlete but Johnson-Thompson insists there are no complaints her best years have coincided with the decade of her domination.

"Nafi is one of the greatest athletes of our generation and of all-time in my view," added Johnson-Thompson.

"More people should really look in to what she’s achieved in sport and in heptathlon. I don’t feel like it’s spoken about enough, perhaps it will be now.

"Having her in the field raises everyone else’s game, I know I need to be the best possible athlete I can be to get close to what she does."

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