Katarina Johnson-Thompson has been consoled by Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson and numerous others after her setback at the European Athletics Championships. The 33-year-old posted an emotional message following her 21st-place finish in the heptathlon.
Disappointment in Birmingham
The Team GB athlete is a double World Championships gold medallist and has also won twice at the European Indoor Championships and the Commonwealth Games. Despite her previous successes, Johnson-Thompson has not yet captured gold at the European Championships, with her finest performance being a silver medal in 2018. She continues to rank among the world's elite heptathletes, having won silver at the 2024 Olympics.
Yet, in a poignant social media update, Johnson-Thompson revealed that she was merely proud to have completed her event in Birmingham after battling injury. Writing on Instagram, Johnson-Thompson said: "Difficult to put into words what the last few days have been like. Being out there but not at your best is such a challenge. I placed so much importance on this competition and it's taken so much to make it to the start line that I had to see it through."
Support from Hodgkinson and others
Responding to Johnson-Thompson's Instagram post following the competition, Olympic 800m champion Hodgkinson, who claimed a silver medal in Birmingham, wrote: "Queen", alongside a red heart and holding-back-tears smiling emoji. The Liverpool athlete also received support from actor and friend Jodie Comer, who was among the many who liked her post, together with fellow Scouse icons Jamie Carragher and Natasha Jonas.
Writing on Instagram, Johnson-Thompson continued: "It's never what you want as a competitor, however, I'm proud that could complete the heptathlon in a stadium that means so much to me. Thank you so much to the team of people that got me to the start line and over the finish line."
"I'm lucky to have people who are willing to put so much time and effort into me fulfilling my dreams. Not just this season but throughout my entire career."
"Thank you to all the fans inside the stadium that showed up and supported. Congratulations to all the hep girls, such an amazing heptathlon to be a part of with depth and talent across every event!"
Mutual admiration among athletes
Newly-crowned European champion Kate O'Connor, who clinched the gold medal for Ireland, demonstrated the mutual admiration amongst elite heptathletes by commenting, "The queen always." Switzerland's Annik Kalin, who finished fourth in the competition, declared that Johnson-Thompson was "the biggest inspiration". Team GB pole vaulter Molly Caudery echoed a similar sentiment to Kalin. Meanwhile, German heptathlete Sophie Weissenberg wrote: "You're unmatched, Kat!! Meant so much to me to compete with you again!!!!!"
Team GB rounded off the championships in second place in the medal table when the competition concluded on Sunday. Only Italy surpassed their tally of nine gold medals, with Team GB also securing eight silvers and two bronzes in Birmingham.
Amy Hunt cemented herself as a standout performer after claiming four gold medals at the European Championships. The 24-year-old sprinter triumphed in both the 100m and 200m events, while also taking gold in the women's and mixed 4x100m relays.
