Katarina Johnson-Thompson Targets Third Heptathlon World Title
Defending world champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson is poised to challenge for her third heptathlon world title after a strong opening day in Tokyo.
Johnson-Thompson in medal contention
Defending champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson enters the final day of the heptathlon in Tokyo in third place with 3,893 points. American Anna Hall leads on 4,154 points, followed by Ireland’s Kate O’Connor on 3,906. Belgium’s Nafi Thiam, last year’s Olympic champion, sits sixth on 3,818.
Decisive second day events
The competition resumes Saturday at 03:35 BST with the long jump, followed by the javelin at 11:00 and the concluding 800m at 13:11. Johnson-Thompson described Friday’s tight schedule as “tough” but remains optimistic: “My day two has improved in recent years—two of my best events are on the final day, so I’m excited.”
Looking back and ahead
After securing silver at Paris 2024, just 36 points shy of gold, Johnson-Thompson returned to a stadium of past disappointment—her calf injury four years ago dashed her Olympic hopes. This week, she trails world-leading Hall by 156 points, but improved on her 2023 world title pace by just 12 points after day one.
- 100m hurdles: Johnson-Thompson ran a season’s best 13.44 seconds, trailing teammate Jade O’Dowda.
- High jump: Cleared 1.86m to remain level with Hall, while Thiam reached 1.89m.
- 200m: Posted the third-fastest time of the day behind Hall and Abigail Pawlett.
Other British finalists
In other events, Keely Hodgkinson and Georgia Hunter Bell secured places in the women’s 800m final, aiming to replicate a British one-two last achieved in Osaka 2007 by Christine Ohuruogu and Nicola Sanders. George Mills also advanced to the men’s 5,000m final.
"Johnson-Thompson holds on to medal hopes in Tokyo, with two strong events ahead to decide her bid for a third world title."
This topic was reported by BBC Sport.
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