Olympic heptathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson, who grew up in Liverpool, is set to share a deeply personal journey on BBC One's Who Do You Think You Are? as she explores her family history, particularly her late father's Bahamian roots.
The 33-year-old, who won heptathlon gold at the 2019 World Championships and silver at the Paris 2024 Olympics, travels to the Bahamas in the episode to learn about her dad Roberto's family. Roberto died in 2017 aged 59, having lived apart from Katarina since she was one year old.
Discovering Her Father's Side
Katarina, who grew up with her mum Tracey in Liverpool, admitted to knowing little about her father's family. "From my dad's side, I don't know that much. I would love to know more about that side of my family," she shared.
"As an athlete, my training is very precise. I know exactly what I'm expected to do, so going into the unknown is quite scary but I'm ready for the challenge," she added.
Parents' Love Story
In a clip from the show, Tracey recalls meeting Roberto on her way to work when she danced at a show at the Crystal Palace Casino. The pair met on a free bus to work, where Roberto was also a passenger.
Tracey remembered their first Christmas together, when Roberto brought a Christmas tree to her apartment after she mentioned feeling homesick. "There was a knock on my door, and as I opened my apartment door, all you could see was this great big tree," she said.
Showing Katarina a picture of their wedding day, Tracey added: "We're both so happy there." Katarina replied: "The smile is definitely how I remember him, this full beam."
Meeting Family in the Bahamas
During the episode, Katarina travels to the Bahamas to meet her dad's sister, Toni, who shares memories of growing up with Katarina's dad and grandmother.
Despite the sadness of missing her late dad, Katarina expresses pride in her ancestors, who worked to better themselves and their communities.
Who Do You Think You Are? airs at 9pm on Thursday on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
