Katarina Johnson-Thompson targeting Olympic glory in Paris 2024 after defying the odds – ‘It was over for me’

Katarina Johnson-Thompson is looking to consign a frustrating spate of injuries to the past and win her first Olympic medal next year at the 2024 Paris Games.

Since her success at the World Championships four years ago, the 30-year-old has overcome a potentially devastating Achilles rupture and a calf injury at the Tokyo Olympics.

“With an injury that big, there are whispers around whether you can come back from that or ever be the same again,” Johnson-Thompson said.

“It’s one of the worst injuries I could have had, on my take-off leg, when I thought I was gaining momentum and I was finally on to something after winning the Worlds.

“Given my strengths in heptathlon are the high jump and long jump, I felt I had lost my superpower – which is my spring.”

That calf injury was arguably just as debilitating, but she showed immense determination to complete the 200m and push through the pain barrier.

It was all the more devastating for Katarina-Johnson given she was in contention for three events in the heptathlon at the time.

She has admitted to having huge doubts about being able to continue in the sport, in what was the biggest setback in a stellar career.

“Covid, my Achilles injury and then the injury in Tokyo were three major things which made it feel like the universe was telling me to stop,” she explained.

“I was listening to it, for sure. I’ve dealt with big losses in the past, I’ve dealt with big injuries, but nothing like that.”

The 30-year-old is showing signs of a revival now, though, and explained how her disappointing eighth place finish in last year’s World Championships served as motivation, before winning a first international gold in three years at the Commonwealth Games.

“Being in Eugene as a spectator of the event was not something I enjoyed,” she added.

“It definitely woke me up and the Commonwealth Games brought back so many good memories of winning titles.

“Last year wasn’t me, I feel that in my core. This year, I feel different.”

Johnson-Thompson’s main goal is now on securing a first Olympic medal in Paris, and she has said this year’s World Championships in Budapest will serve as preparation for next summer.

“I’ve never won an Olympic medal. That’s something that is in the back of my mind for next year, for sure, looking at the bigger picture.

“Obviously, I want a world medal – but everything I’m doing this year, even the World Championships, is for Paris.”