Katarina Johnson-Thompson is still in the fight for heptathlon gold at the Paris Olympics, but she must produce a special run in the final event tonight.
The 31-year-old from Liverpool enjoyed a brilliant first day at the Stade de France, securing an overnight lead after a solid 200m performance followed a personal best in the shot put.
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However, as expected, it is Thiam at the top of the standings heading into the final event, after the Olympic champion in Rio and Tokyo produced a throw of 54.04m in the javelin on Friday morning.
That was nearly nine metres more than Johnson-Thompson could manage, and it means Thiam is in pole position heading into the 800m.
What does Katarina Johnson-Thompson need to win gold medal?
With just the 800m to go in the heptathlon, Thiam holds a lead of 121 points over Johnson-Thompson. Annik Kalin of Switzerland is in third, 109 points off the British athlete, with Noor Vidts five points further back.
If Johnson-Thompson is to win gold in Paris tonight, she must beat Thiam by around eight and a half seconds in the 800m.
The Briton’s personal best over the distance is 2:05.63, set at the World Championships in Hungary last year. Thiam’s best came earlier this summer, when she ran a 2:11.79.
It means if the Belgian is to match her personal best, Johnson-Thompson must take at least two seconds off her best ever time. She will be confident of sealing a place on the podium at the very least, for what would be her first Olympic medal.
Anna Hall currently sits fifth in the overall standings, but is capable of running a very quick 800m and is still firmly in the medal hunt.
Heptathlon standings after six events:
Position |
Athlete |
Points |
200m PB |
1 |
Nafi Thiam |
5924 |
2:11.79 |
2 |
Katarina Johnson-Thompson |
5803 |
2:05.63 |
3 |
Annik Kalin |
5694 |
2:13.73 |
4 |
Noor Vidts |
5689 |
2:08.50 |
5 |
Anna Hall |
5567 |
2:02.97 |
