The Olympic silver medalist Katarina Johnson-Thompson has retired from her first heptatlon event since last year’s Paris games due to a minor injury.
Johnson-Thompson, 32, had to participate in the prestigious Gotzis Hypo meeting to be a hero in Austria on Saturdays and Sundays.
But the two heptatlon world champion said in Thorsday that he is “really delayed” not to compete the weekend after collecting the training injury.
“I really wanted to compete in my first heptatlon from Paris, especially in Gotzis, since the event is so special,” said Johnson-Thompson in an Instagram post.
“It is with a heavy heart that I have had to make this decision. Grateful that the injury is not serious and I will return to the track shortly.”
The Great Britain athlete won the first Olympic Medal in four Games when it ended behind Nafissatou Thiam by Belgium in Paris.
Katarina Johnson-Thompson, the reigning world heptathlon champion, has withdrawn from the European Athletics Championships in Rome due to a minor injury in her right leg. Her coach, Aston Moore, described the issue as a “small niggle” and emphasized that the decision was made to avoid jeopardizing her preparation for the upcoming Paris Olympics. Johnson-Thompson had completed three events—100m hurdles, high jump, and shot put—before pulling out ahead of the 200m.
This withdrawal marks her first missed heptathlon event since the Tokyo Olympics, where she suffered a calf injury during the 200m, leading to her withdrawal from the competition. Despite these setbacks, Johnson-Thompson made a remarkable comeback by winning her second world title in Budapest in 2023. BBC+2Sky Sports+2BBC+2
With the Paris Olympics on the horizon, Johnson-Thompson’s team is taking a cautious approach to ensure she is in peak condition for the Games. Her primary rival is expected to be Belgium’s Nafissatou Thiam, the two-time Olympic champion. Both athletes are aiming to be at their best for what promises to be a highly anticipated showdown in Paris. ITVX+4
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