Katarina Johnson-Thompson 'convinced' by partner Andrew Pozzi to shelve retirement plans in chase of Commonwealth three-peat
Published 20/04/2026 at 15:09 GMT+1
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Katarina Johnson-Thompson has revealed that partner Andrew Pozzi convinced her to prolong her athletics career.
Johnson-Thompson shares podium with Brooks for heptathlon bronze
Video credit: TNT Sports
Sprint hurdler Pozzi won gold at the 2018 World Indoor Championships in Birmingham and bronze at the 2022 Commonwealth Games before retiring last year.
Johnson-Thompson, however, isn't prepared to follow suit as she bids to become the first woman to win three Commonwealth heptathlon gold medals in a row.
Denise Lewis, like the Liverpudlian, won back-to-back golds in 1994 and 1998, while Mary Peters did so in the pentathlon in 1970 and 1974.
The 33-year-old may have been tempted to follow Pozzi's lead and call time on her career.
However, Johnson-Thompson, who shared bronze with Taliyah Brooks in Tokyo last year, has since revealed to Athletics Weekly that it was her two-time gold medallist partner that convinced her to carry on as she strives to write her name into the history books.
"He [Pozzi] has actually convinced me to carry on for longer. He says everyone should be an athlete for as long as they can," Johnson-Thompson said.
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‘Can’t be separated’ - Johnson-Thompson, Brooks share bronze medal as Hall wins gold
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"The grass isn’t as green as it may seem on the other side. He still trains, he still runs hills with me on Saturdays.
"He’s still got that urge as an athlete to be competitive, but it’s just there’s no outlet for him, so I think he's probably convinced me the other way to try and stay as long as I possibly can."
"I'm really happy with what I've done already, so that gives me a lot of freedom to just be able to enjoy the privileged position of what I've been able to do.
"I've been able to do a sport I love for my whole life, so I'm very happy in that respect."
However, if she were forced to call time on her career today, Johnson-Thompson admits she's "really happy" with what she has achieved.
"If I stop today, I'm really happy with what I've done already," she added.
'Never say never'
Johnson-Thompson was also asked about potentially competing in the London Marathon in the future.
The 26.2 mile event takes place this weekend as Sabastian Sawe and Tigst Assefa look to defend their respective Men's and Women's crown.
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Kenya’s Sawe wins men’s race at London Marathon after ‘phenomenal run’
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And when quizzed on one day competing in the historic race, Johnson-Thompson replied: "I would never say never.
"The competitiveness and all this energy has to go somewhere in the future. There might be a point when I say: ‘Oh go on, let me try it’ and I’ll see if it’s harder than a heptathlon."
The 2026 Commonwealth Games run from July 23 to August 2 and will be held in Glasgow.
Watch the 2026 Commonwealth Games on TNT Sports and HBO Max
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