Katarina Johnson-Thompson: Team GB star to race Nafissatou Thiam for gold in final 800m showdown
By Ben Southby
Updated 09/08/2024 at 13:36 GMT+1
Katarina Johnson-Thompson will head into the final heptathlon event in second place after current champion Nafissatou Thiam surged into the lead after a statement javelin leg. The Belgian, who is bidding for a third consecutive heptathlon gold, moved more than 100 points ahead of Johnson-Thompson, who is fighting for a maiden Olympic medal.
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Video credit: TNT Sports
Reigning champion Nafissatou Thiam and Team GB's Katarina Johnson-Thompson will race it out for gold over 800m as the women's heptathlon comes to a thrilling conclusion at the 2024 Paris Games.
Johnson-Thompson led the pack at the end of the penultimate day, before the heptathletes took on the long jump and javelin disciplines at the Stade de France. Thiam has the lead going into the final event, the 800m on Friday night, but Johnson-Thompson has the superior time in the discipline.
The Team GB star knew she would likely lose ground on rival Thiam in the javelin event, which meant she required a solid performance in the long jump, before the heptathlon closes with the 800m.
However, things did not quite go to plan for the two-time world champion, who endured a nervy start to Friday’s action as the athletes took to the runway.
Johnson-Thompson failed to register a significant mark with a tame 4.65m effort in her opening leap after misjudging the approach run, and she continued to struggle during her second attempt as she leapt well before reaching the foul line.
The 31-year-old needed something big in her third and final effort.
Although she improved to 6.40m to remain in contention – enough to hold on to her lead at least – she conceded crucial points to her Belgian rival and second-placed Thiam, who narrowly produced a better score of 6.41m.
Thiam then starred in the javelin in what is one of her stronger events, and although Johnson-Thompson improved on her long jump performance, she lost her overall lead.
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In a totally contrasting start to the morning’s long jump, Johnson-Thompson got off to a flyer with an effort of 44.64m. The Brit followed it up with a non-score after a foul, but then improved on her opening effort with 45.49m.
However, it was not enough to defend her overall lead as Thiam blew the competition out of the water to take a strong grip on the No. 1 spot.
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Katarina Johnson-Thompson during the heptathlon javelin event.
Image credit: Getty Images
The Belgian made a huge statement with the opening throw of the session to surge ahead of Johnson-Thompson by more than 100 points.
She scored a season-best 54.04m, nearly five metres more than anyone in Group A and 8.55m further than Johnson-Thompson’s best effort as she put one hand on the gold medal.
Heading into the seventh and final event, Johnson-Thompson trails Thiam by 121 points.
It remains to be seen what the Brit can pull out of the bag in the 800m – where she is faster than Thiam – as she continues her bid for an elusive gold.
Double delight for Team GB in 4x400m
Both of Great Britain’s 4x400m relay teams progressed to their respective finals following an electric morning on the track.
The men's and women’s groups both finished in second place, as the top three teams from each heat advanced straight to the final.
With the Americans well clear in the women’s race, Team GB were left to battle with Belgium and France for the second and third spots.
Lina Nielsen kicked on in the fourth leg to race into second and held off competition from France’s Amandine Brossier to seal Team GB’s place in Saturday’s medal race.Â
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Lina Nielsen competes in the women's 4x400m relay at Paris 2024.
Image credit: Getty Images
As for the men, this time it was Botswana out of sight by the anchor leg with Britain holding on to their place in second position throughout the race.
Charlie Dobson had to fight off Team USA’s Christopher Bailey in a nail-biting finish, but in the end, both did enough to finish second and third respectively to move into the final.
Burgin gives GB 800m hope
Ben Pattison and Elliot Giles both crashed out of the 800m semi-final after the British pair finished fourth and fifth respectively in their heats.
Pattison produced an uncharacteristic run as he ran out of steam in the final stages to clock a time of 1:45.47 in a relatively slow heat, while Giles ran an almost identical 1:45.46 in the next race which was also not fast enough.
But Max Burgin delivered a personal best time of 1:43.50 in the third heat to ensure Team GB have a representative in the final as the fastest non-automatic qualifier.
The 800m action comes thick and fast, with the final scheduled in the evening session on Saturday, August 10.
Elsewhere, Cindy Sember was unfortunate to miss out on a place in the women's 100m hurdles final after she fell and failed to finish her semi-final race after clipping the hurdle.
discovery+ is the streaming home of the Olympic Games, and the only place you can watch every moment of Paris 2024 this summer.
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