KATARINA’S BODY BLOW
‘THIS WILL TAKE SOME GETTING OVER’
KATARINA JohnsonThompson says coming to terms with Olympic heartbreak is going to take her a long time.
Britain’s world heptathon champion was still in a state of shock the morning after being cut down by injury and forced out of the heptathlon.
While the competition continued without her – eventually won by Belgium’s Nafi Thiam as she successfully defended her crown – the Liverpudlian laid bare the anguish she felt at having her Tokyo dream taken from her.
“I don’t know where to begin in trying to explain how I feel,” tweeted Thompson-Johnson. “I’ve sacrificed so much, moving my entire life to France five years ago, away from my family and friends.
“I’ve lost heart knowing that the work my team and I have done for this past eight months was for this outcome and I hate that my story has played out in more heartbreak.
“I’ve been knocked so many times and got back up, but it will take a lot of time for me to process this reality.”
This was no ‘poor me’ outburst from the 28-year old whose career has so often been dogged by misfortune.
It was a venting of frustration at what seems so blatant an injustice. First that the Olympics were postponed when she was in the form of her life.
Then that she suffered a ruptured Achilles that decimated her build-up.
“More than ever I’m proud that I showed up, put myself out there and tried,” she said.
“It would have been very easy to shy away and pull out, to say I wasn’t ready and blame the injury, but I’m not that type of athlete or person. I am a fighter.
“I’m gritty AF and I find it extremely hard to give up. I can rest easy knowing I applied myself every single day and pushed until I couldn’t push anymore.”
Johnson-Thompson believed she was on course for a medal after starting superbly in the 100m hurdles and shot. She needed treatment during her high jump but led into the bend in the 200 and was poised to end Wednesday in a medal position.
That was when her calf went, she fell to the track and medics tried to scoop her up in a wheelchair.
Johnson-Thompson was having none of that, explaining: “I started the year in a wheelchair and I was not willing to end my Olympic campaign the same way.
“To make it to the line was a miracle, not only to do that but to be on my way to putting a decent score together is heartbreaking. I truly believed I was capable of winning a medal despite having up to half a year of missed training.
“Only a handful of people understand what I have been through,” she said.
“Even a smaller amount understand the mental and physical challenges I’ve faced trying to make it back in time through a pandemic.
“I appreciate the kind messages.Thank you x”
In taking gold with 6,791 points from Dutch duo Anouk Vetter (6689) and Emma Oosterwegel (6590), Thiam joined American Jackie JoynerKersee – the champion in 1988 and 1992 – as the only athletes to retain the Olympic heptathlon title.