Katarina Johnson-Thompson

England's Katarina Johnson-Thompson retained her heptathlon gold at the Commonwealth Games thanks to an excellent final-day PB in the javelin.

And after a tough few years riddled with injury, there were smiles - and tears - across the face of Johnson-Thompson at the finish as the result was confirmed. Johnson-Thompson had held a slender lead over O'Connor on Tuesday night after the latter had a fine first day of competition. "I've had a tough couple of years so I'm so happy and hopefully this is the start of my next new career.

It is Johnson-Thompson's first victory since winning the world title in 2019 having recovered from at least one career-threatening injury. Birmingham 2022 ...

Katarina Johnson-Thompson claimed her first heptathlon title for three years after successfully defending her Commonwealth Games crown. Katarina Johnson-Thompson claims first heptathlon title for three years She then consolidated her lead with a stunning personal best of 44.33m in the javelin, one of her weaker events, leaving her on the verge of gold.

Katarina Johnson-Thompson claimed her first heptathlon title for three years after successfully defending her Commonwealth Games crown.

Scotland are out of the Commonwealth Games with that but they've exceeded a lot of people's expectations by winning two matches in this tournament and keeping New Zealand and Australia to narrow victories. He slows down to a jog towards the end and qualifies in a time of 46.26. Joe Brier is in third and will also qualify for the semi-finals. The long ump is the fifth event and the first on day two of the competition. With only 11 minutes to go in the final quarter that could well be the game. England leading Wales in the second heat and Scotland finishing second to Australia in the first. Jamie Webb takes the win for England in the first heat and Scotland’s Guy Learmonth comes in second. Lap four of eight in the mountain biking and it's still Sam Gaze and Ben Oliver out in front. She brings an element of drama with how she adopts a zen like facial expression before she goes for her lift and reaching 160kg in the end when she had the gold in the bag - led to a standing ovation from the crowd. That will be a massive blow to the skipper who would've been gunning to lead England during the first appearance for women's cricket in the Commonwealth Games. It is getting really tense in the arena with the bronze medal in sight. She sealed the game off in great style and leaves the matt with a beaming smile! Paralympic and European champion adds a Commonwealth Games medal to the collection!

Katarina Johnson-Thompson successfully defended her Commonwealth Games crown to scoop gold. The 29-year-old, who was born in Woolton, triumphed with 6377 ...

It gave her a 136-point advantage over Northern Ireland's O'Connor heading into the final 800m and she ran two minutes 13.93 to finish second in the race and comfortably claim overall victory. A ruptured Achilles threatened her Olympic dream last year and, even though she made it to Tokyo, she suffered a serious calf injury in the 200m and had to withdraw. Promoted Stories

Former world and Commonwealth champion Johnson-Thompson, 29, came into the final event, the 800m, still leading the younger rivals trying to snatch her ...

“She unfortunately passed away a couple of days after I returned [from Eugene] and it’s been a tough week so I’m just happy to get through it. England’s multi-events queen contributed to one of the best nights British athletics has known since Super Saturday - 10 years ago today. But on an extraordinary evening she not only put her career back on track by retaining her Commonwealth title.

Keep up to date with the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games with medal tables, games schedule, volunteer jobs and tickets.

The 29-year-old triumphed with 6377 points ahead of Northern Ireland’s Kate O’Connor who took silver and England team-mate Jade O’Dowda in third in Birmingham. She then consolidated her lead with a stunning personal best of 44.33m in the javelin, one of her weaker events, leaving her on the verge of gold. The 29-year-old triumphed with 6377 points ahead of Northern Ireland’s Kate O’Connor who took silver.

The 29-year-old triumphed with 6377 points ahead of Northern Ireland's Kate O'Connor who took silver and England team-mate Jade O'Dowda in third in ...

However, she will feel she short-changed herself with a slow start from the blocks which robbed her of a chance to beat the five-time Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah, who won in 10.95sec. That, as it happens, was her last victory in a heptathlon of any scale, and in turn followed her first big outdoor title, on this very stage at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. It wasn't about the points, it was about being competitive. Ultimately silver went to Northern Ireland's Kate O'Connor, 144 points behind, and England's Jane O'Dowda won bronze. This was a title defence. For that simpler, more tangible purpose, this was a success.

Katarina Johnson-Thompson claimed her first heptathlon title for three years as she successfully defended her Commonwealth Games crown.

I had a bad back in February and this is the first race with no pain, no tears. "I've had a terrible year," the 25-year-old said. But at the Alexander Stadium, she ended her wait for a win. Just to finish a race, it sounds silly, but it's such a special moment." This is really my redemption year." She then consolidated her lead with a stunning personal best of 44.33m in the javelin, one of her weaker events, leaving her on the verge of gold.

Johnson-Thompson retained her title shortly after her grandmother Mary had died.

Start your Independent Premium subscription today. I wanted to get through with solid performances so that was unexpected but a nice surprise.” “I’ve done three heptathlons this year, I’m just happy to get through and healthy. By clicking ‘Register’ you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use, Cookie policy and Privacy notice. By clicking ‘Register’ you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use, Cookie policy and Privacy notice. Registration is a free and easy way to support our truly independent journalism

It is Johnson-Thompson's first victory since winning the world title in 2019 having recovered from two serious injuries and she paid tribute to her grandmother Mary, who died last month. Katarina Johnson-Thompson won after enduring a difficult 18 months ( ...

I wanted to get through with solid performances so that was unexpected but a nice surprise.” “I’ve done three heptathlons this year, I’m just happy to get through and healthy. “It’s been particularly hard because the last champs at Glasgow indoors she was here so it was quite hard not to see her face in the crowd.

England's Katarina Johnson-Thompson retained her Commonwealth Games heptathlon title in Birmingham. Victory on home soil marked a welcome return to form for ...

Commonwealth champion again, 2022 (6377 points) European silver, 2018 (6759 points) First Commonwealth crown, 2018 (6255 points)

Katarina Johnson-Thompson has been injured and suffered the loss of her grandmother before the Commonwealth Games but she said: 'I'm just happy to get ...

To put it into context, Nafi Thiam won the world championships in Eugene a fortnight ago with a score of 6,974 points, while the bronze was secured with 6,755. But amid the celebrations the fact that her three scores – 6,174 points in Götzis, 6,222 in Eugene, and now 6,377 here – are among the lowest of her career should not be ignored, either. This gold came exactly 10 years ago to the day since Johnson-Thompson made her major championship debut at the 2012 Olympics, where she finished in 13th place on 6,267 points. A three-inch scar on her left achilles tendon, and another on a torn right calf muscle she sustained at the Tokyo Olympics, have healed but they have also left their mark. Katarina Johnson-Thompson has been through the wars over the past three injury-ravaged years, and last week she also lost her grandmother Mary. Yet in front of an adoring home crowd she summoned a performance of no little resolve to retain her Commonwealth Games heptathlon title. But after so much tears and turbulence this victory, her first in the heptathlon since October 2019, tasted particularly sweet.

Johnson-Thompson won her first title in three years after the pain of injury set-backs while McColgan produced one of the performances of the Games to ...

I know the hard work she does, there are people here who don’t normally get to watch her running, and it’s all come together.” I just need to perform better in these finals.” “She’s just run the race I always knew she was capable of running. I was ready to win a medal, but you could see in that last 200m I wanted gold. “Your family know the ups and downs and how difficult that journey is. “It’s been such an up and down year,” said McColgan. “I couldn’t have asked for anymore.

Katarina Johnson-Thompson credited her 2018 Commonwealth Games gold with helping to achieve world title glory a year later.

But her body held together to saunter relatively simply to another triumph with a season’s best 2:13.93. But O’Connor dropped back to fifth place after a lacklustre long-jump competition. She was well off her best initially in the javelin with an opening round of 36.19, which she improved to 41.37 and 44.33, the very best of her entire career. In contrast, Johnson-Thompson first recorded a jump of 6.28m, the exact distance she had managed during the recent World Athletics Championships in Eugene. And with her final jump, she extended it by a further five centimetres to stretch her lead. She still lacks the bounce off her take-off leg in the long jump and high jump, the two disciplines in which she typically scores big, but there is confidence her Achilles will soon enable her to get back to her best in both. Since then she has twice changed coaches, relocating back to the UK from the USA in a bid to rebuild her body and her career.

England's Katarina Johnson-Thompson completed a successful defence of her Commonwealth title to win her first heptathlon event for three years.

“I am in it to win it. I know the lay of the land. “I have been here since I was 10 years old.

Gold medal winning Katarina Johnson-Thompson paid tribute to her late grandmother after triumphing at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

She said: "I’ve done three heptathlons this year, I’m just happy to get through and healthy. So, I’m so happy for many different reasons." "It’s been particularly hard because the last champs at Glasgow indoors she was here so it was quite hard not to see her face in the crowd.”