Two seconds give Thiam heptathlon gold

TWO days of gruelling competition came down to two crucial seconds in the final 800m race, as Belgian pretender Nafissatou Thiam usurped Jessica Ennis-Hill as Olympic heptathlon champion.

At the end of a gripping competition, Thiam went into the two-lap race with a 142-point lead over the defending champion. Given the duo’s personal bests over 800m, that equated to Thiam getting around within 9.47sec of Ennis-Hill to claim victory.

Although the Briton produced a sterling gun-to-tape showing, Thiam came in 7.47sec behind to ensure gold by the narrowest of margins.

“I went into the 800m knowing I had about nine or 10 seconds on Jessica,” Thiam, 21, whose gold was only Belgium’s fourth athletics medal and first since 2008, said.

“I just tried to do my best and have no regrets so I could leave thinking I gave it all.”

Thiam said she had not expected a gold in Rio.

“It’s more than a dream to be Olympic champion,” she said.

“I injured my elbow six weeks ago throwing the javelin in the Belgian championships.

“At first the doctor was not very optimistic about it. I did a lot of work with physio.

“They said I had to go through the pain but if I was throwing correctly it would be OK.

“I wasn’t expecting to win – maybe top eight, but not the gold.”

Ennis-Hill finished just 35 points adrift of Thiam’s winning total of 6 810 points, with Canada’s Brianne Thiesen Eaton claiming bronze (6 653).

“I’m pretty emotional but these are happy tears,” Ennis Hill said.

“I’m really pleased to be back on the podium again.

“These two days have been really tough but I’m really proud.”

Ennis-Hill, the poster girl of British athletics at the London Games four years ago, added: “I have to make a decision as to whether this is my last heptathlon or not, but I’m so proud of what I have achieved over the last few years.

“I knew I had to beat her [Thiam] by 10 seconds in the 800m.

“When I came off after the javelin I spoke to Toni [Minichiello, her coach] and said: ‘What have I got to do?’

“When he said 10 seconds I thought, ‘that is so much’ but I just ran hard like I always do in the 800m and just tried to see what I could do.

“I can come away knowing that I have given everything.

“I knew she was going to run hard for that gold medal and she wouldn’t let that kind of lead slip.

“She's had two days of amazing performances.”