Johnson-Thompson shares heptathlon bronze in dramatic conclusion

In a dramatic 800-meter final ceremony in Tokyo, American Taliyah Brooks and Great Britain’s Katarina Johnson-Thompson shared a heartfelt fourth world heptathlon medal with her in unprecedented circumstances.

Johnson-Thompson, 32, did not know how to respond when she continued her late-career resurgence by claiming a third major podium for the first time in a row when competing at the same stadium where she experienced Olympic heartache four years ago.

Johnson-Thompson wore a puzzled look as it was revealed they had finished on the same points, having to defeat Brooks by about six seconds to take the podium.

However, when her name and Brooks were pictured staring in bronze on the big screen, tied for the first time with a total of 6, 581 points, to split a world medal, the tears started to pour.

After three-time Olympic champion Nafi Thiam withdrew from the competition when ranked eighth earlier on Saturday, American Anna Hall won the first-ever world title, while Ireland’s Kate O’Connor held on for a historic silver.

I can’t say that. Johnson-Thompson said, “I’m still in a bit of disbelief.”

Johnson-Thompson feared that her career was over when she was at her worst. Since nights like this could not have been further afield, it has been little more than three years.

Since winning her first Olympic medal in Paris in 2024, she has made a remarkable turnaround, winning it again in Budapest in 2023.

She was able to once more celebrate medal success at her seventh World Championships, but not in a situation she could have ever imagined because of the freedom that that journey back to the top has given her.

Johnson-Thompson said, “I’ve been through it in this stadium.”

“It is so moving, and it meant the world to finish yesterday’s 200-meter race.

Johnson-Thompson, who was not a stranger to close finishes, was only 36 points away from gold at the previous summer’s Olympics, which equates to a two-second difference in the 800-meter race.

She was aware that her fortunes would once again fall to the lowest margins in the two-lap finale after a relative underperformance in the javelin, where her best of 41.91m placed 16th overall.

Brooks made herself more important as Johnson-Thompson’s priority because she knew she had a better personal best by 8.5 seconds, which O’Connor’s superb javelin personal best of 53.06m made sure the silver was hers to lose behind runaway leader Hall.

Brooks set up a tense wait after holding on until the line was crossed five minutes later, despite her two minutes 07.38 seconds of success in distancing her rival in the closing stages.

So Hall and O’Connor could start their celebrations, but Brooks and Johnson-Thompson were initially left shoulder-stretched before being finally given the prize they sought.

It has been physically and mentally exhausting. Knowing how difficult it is, it’s difficult to put yourself up for the fight once more, Johnson-Thompson said.

As long as I’m competitive, I’ll be here, as I promised last year. This is the last time you’ll see me, as I said in 2016 as I recall.

Give me a month off, and I’ll ask when training is, and I’ll say this when I win.

On BBC TV, four-time world champion heptathlete Jessica Ennis-Hill said, “You can see the emotions have started to build up. There have never been any instances where the scores are the same. She must feel such a great deal of relief.

She had already promised to fight in the 800 meters. She will always try to be more comfortable with herself. She fought, and you want every athlete to perform as Katarina does every time.