‘Easiest thing I’ve ever done’ – Katarina Johnson-Thompson reflects on World Championships golden redemption in Budapest

The 30-year-old, who won heptathlon gold in Doha in 2019, finished second to Anna Hall in the 800m to confirm her status as world champion by 20 points.

Her achievement will go down in the history books, with all odds against her after rupturing her Achilles shortly after claiming her first World Championship gold four years ago.

But her redemption has been faultless, and a gold medal is her reward.

“On the start line, I was the most calm I’ve ever been,” she told Eurosport. “I’ve been really nervous since after the javelin, I’m not going to lie I’ve been really down with myself because I’ve not been able to run those times since 2019.

“But on the walk in, I’m not sure if you could see it on TV, I [could see] all the past winners and I saw my 2019 self and I saw a flicker of the old me, and I was able to harness that. It was the easiest thing I’ve ever done.

“Absolutely not [would she have believed she could win gold], it was a rough start to my heptathlon, but I was so happy I was able to build that evening session and then into today, I was just building and building, I was in work mode and it’s paid off.”

Speaking to BBC Sport, she added: “I’ve got no words, I can’t believe it. It’s like being in a dream of mine and I’ve literally been thinking about this for months and months, and nobody else could see the vision apart from me and my team.”

Following her Achilles injury, the tough journey back to the top for Johnson-Thompson continued when she suffered a setback at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021, pulling up with a calf injury.

“Not just today but definitely the last couple of years as well,” she replied when asked how tough she found the final event on Sunday. “Especially this time last year, it was such a horrible experience to be in the competition but not competing for the medals.

“All I’ve ever wanted was a chance at gold and I’m so happy. That’s why I had no nerves coming into the 800m when my name got called out and I could see the montages, and I could see my 2018 self, and I just thought ‘all I ever wanted was a shot at gold’, and I was so happy I was able to take that opportunity today.”

She overtook Hall after recording a personal best of 46.14m in the javelin before gaining another advantage in the long jump to begin the 800m in the gold-medal position.

“That was the easiest run I’ve ever done in my life,” Johnson-Thompson said as she reflected on her performance in the final event. “I didn’t know the time until halfway around the victory lap.

“It’s so easy to run when there’s something on the line, and yeah, that was one of the easiest things I’ve ever done.

“I’m so happy that I’m able to commit. I’ve committed to the vision and I’ve committed to trying again.

“I’ve committed to getting my heart broken again and this time I didn’t. It’s all come good and I’m so happy.”