Andy Murray-like Katarina Johnson-Thompson backed for Olympic gold by Stef Reid and Anthony Ogogo - 'She's on fire'
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2024/09/16/image-70e52184-1d6b-4d9c-a172-9a13d4a3a1d9-68-310-310.jpeg)
Updated 09/08/2024 at 10:28 GMT+1
A monster personal best in the shot put from Katarina Johnson-Thompson means she leads the Paris 2024 Olympic heptathlon ahead of double-champion Nafissatou Thiam entering the final day of action. Johnson-Thompson has twice been denied at the Olympics, but never led at this stage with the long jump, javelin and 800m still to go. And her celebration spoke volumes, as Stef Reid told Eurosport.
KJT 'most expressive I've ever seen her,' says Reid, compares GB star to Andy Murray
Video credit: TNT Sports
Team GB fans should get excited about Katarina Johnson-Thompson's rare celebration, according to Stef Reid, with the Liverpudlian in pole position for heptathlon gold.
The heir apparent to Jessica Ennis-Hill after London 2012, Johnson-Thompson is a double world champion in heptathlon but has never won an Olympic medal, and endured heartbreak in Rio and Tokyo.
However, she leads the field on the final morning of the event, 48 points ahead of Nafissatou Thiam with long jump, javelin and 800m still to come.
Team GB Paralympic medallist Reid told Eurosport's Bonjour Paris that her reaction to a personal best performance in shot put reverberated beyond the Stade de France.
"That reaction right there. I’ve watched Kat for so long, and she’s the kind of competitor, almost reminds me of Andy Murray - she never really gives much away, neither did he. This is the most expressive I have ever seen her and I think that’s exciting," Reid said.
"Honestly I think she could do it, which is exciting. Thiam’s still there and she’s very good at the javelin, but I don’t think we can overstate how good her shot put was. That was a massive personal best."
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2024/08/08/4022565-81588948-2560-1440.jpg)
Watch sensational leap from KJT as she clears her highest mark in five years
Video credit: TNT Sports
Ogogo: "Johnson-Thompson on fire right now"
Johnson-Thompson was fifth before she was forced to abandon her Tokyo 2020 campaign ahead of the 200m due to a calf injury, and finished sixth in Rio as Thiam took gold on both occasions.
The Belgian remains in contention in Paris while Anna Hall sits third for the USA, 99 points behind.
Johnson-Thompson surged into first after the high jump and managed a creditable fifth in the shot put out of 22 competitors, before finishing her first day with first place in the 200m metres in front of a packed-out crowd.
The danger isn't over, with javelin one of Thiam's strongest events, but Johnson-Thompson has never been in a better position to banish her Olympic demons and emulate Ennis-Hill and Denise Lewis by taking heptathlon gold for Team GB.
- Bronze for Finucane in hectic keirin final, Marchant in agonising fourth
- Dominant Aldridge takes inaugural women's kite gold in sailing for Team GB
Boxer Anthony Ogogo, who won a bronze medal at London 2012 while Johnson-Thompson made her Olympic debut and finished 13th, praised her journey.
"She is on fire right now and I’m going to say it. I think she should win the gold medal. I hope she does, she’s an amazing girl," said Ogogo.
"We went to an event and she'd just come top 12 in the world, I think it was her first senior tournament, she was so happy to be there, being spoken about so to see her go from that to now being pole in the Olympic Games.
"I’m just so proud of her, the work she’s put in, she’s a star. She’s a genuine star."
discovery+Â is the streaming home of the Olympic Games, and the only place you can watch every moment of Paris 2024 this summer
Related Topics
Advertisement
Advertisement