In a devastating blow for British athletics, heptathlon world champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson saw her European Championship dreams shattered in a heart-wrenching moment on the track in Rome.
The Liverpool-born athlete, a strong favourite for the title, pulled up abruptly in the final stretch of the 200m event, her second discipline of the day. Clutching her right leg in clear distress, the 31-year-old was unable to finish the race, collapsing to the track in visible agony as medical staff rushed to her aid.
The incident occurred just moments after fellow Brit Andrew Pozzi had secured his spot in the 110m hurdles semi-finals, creating a stark contrast of emotions for Team GB.
Johnson-Thompson had begun her campaign strongly earlier in the day, clearing an impressive 1.87m in the high jump. This performance had positioned her well in the hunt for the podium before catastrophe struck during the sprint event.
This injury represents a cruel setback for the athlete known affectionately as KJT, coming at a critical juncture just weeks before she was expected to lead Britain's medal charge at the Paris Olympics. The severity of the injury remains unknown, but the timing could hardly be worse for the reigning world champion.
The athletics community now holds its breath awaiting news on the extent of the damage, with Olympic aspirations potentially hanging in the balance for one of Britain's most decorated multi-event athletes.
