After two days and seven events, only seconds could separate them. Katarina Johnson-Thompson ran the 800m of her life – the only problem was she pushed the greatest heptathlete of all time into doing so as well. Nafi Thiam completed a historic hat-trick of Olympic titles in the heptathlon, collapsing across the line after chasing Johnson-Thompson down at the last. Thiam won gold by 36 points, or around two seconds.
Earlier, it was a medal in Paris at last for Dina Asher-Smith and Daryll Neita in the women’s 4x100m relay as Team GB won silver. But did they allow an Olympic gold to slip through their grasp in a rain-soaked Stade de France?
For Johnson-Thompson, the joy of a long-awaited first Olympics medal came with the anguish of finishing so close to gold. She had managed to put the injuries and heartbreak behind her to revive the Olympic dream that began at London 2012 and appeared out of reach when she ruptured her achilles in 2019. The 31-year-old was not going to give up the fight with one event to go, but the comeback in the 800m proved just beyond her.
Johnson-Thompson had to beat Thiam’s time in the 800m by roughly eight seconds to overhaul the Belgian’s lead in the standings, a near-impossible deficit. Although JohnsonThompson set a new personal best of 2:04:90, Thiam managed to keep the Liverpudlian within the required margin to defend her title. The 29-year-old knew she had been pushed all the way, though. Thiam, too, set a personal best of 2:10:62 to secure a final tally of 6880.
The precariousness of her lead and the challenge JohnsonThompson presented Thiam was evident on the opening lap. The Belgian stumbled when the runner behind her, Hungary’s Xenia Krizsan, clipped her heels. Thiam almost went down but managed to recover her stride. If she had fallen, then gold would have been Johnson-Thompson’s; instead, she was tightly marked throughout.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Saudi revolution rolls on with Wembley showdown
It has cost a billion dollars, taken just 11 months, and this Saturday in front of 96,000, the boxing revolution will continue at Wembley Stadium. Last October, a boxing ring appeared from a depth of 26ft inside a black hole in the middle of the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, the Saudi Arabian capital: the new capital of boxing. The ring was for Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou; the best two men in their respective sports, boxing and mixed martial arts. It was the launch of the boxing revolution.
Salvatore Schillaci, star of Italia '90, dies aged 59
Salvatore \"Toto\" Schillaci, an icon of Italian football and the top scorer at the 1990 World Cup, has died at the age of 59.
Tweaks could net Arsenal a Champions League trophy
In some of the difficult early seasons in north London, and even when things started to pick up and there was interest elsewhere, there was a particular motivation that drove Mikel Arteta.
City's riveting draw shows new league format has legs.
If the revamped Champions League was supposed to inject the competition with more drama, perhaps Uefa could still savour the scoreline in a stalemate.
Pelicot tells court rape suspects are 'degenerates'
The woman at the centre of the Monster of Avignon multiple rape trial accused her attackers of being “degenerates” as she gave evidence yesterday.
Casualties pass 1 million in Putin's war against Ukraine
The combined number of casualties on both sides in Russia's war against Ukraine has reached the ghastly one million mark, according to a media report. The tally of deaths in Europe's largest conflict since the Second World War rapidly overtook the estimated 140,000 that resulted from the wars in the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s, and continues to mushroom.
Attack on Russian weapons store triggers massive blast
Ukrainian drone strike picked up by earthquake monitors
Train drivers accept pay deal to end strike action
Two years of misery caused by strike action for rail passengers has come to an end following a breakthrough in negotiations over drivers' pay.
Mother found Letby with crying baby, inquiry hears
A mother spoke emotionally as she described the moment she found Lucy Letby with her premature baby, crying and with blood around his mouth.
Lib Dems to investigate member accused of groping.woman at party conference
The Liberal Democrats are investigating a member accused of groping a woman at the party’s annual conference after the police said no further action would be taken.
