World 2019 heptathlon champion and British record-holder eager to start 2023 outdoor season with a bang
Katarina Johnson-Thompson is in confident mood ahead of her season opener outdoors as she takes on some of the best heptathletes in the world at Hypo-Meeting Götzis (May 27-28).
The world 2019 heptathlon champion and British record-holder warmed up for her trip to Austria in style after winning both the 100m hurdles and being part of the successful England 4x400m relay team.
The 30-year-old clocked 13.73 (-1.0) in the 100m hurdles, threw a best of 13.13m in the shot put and rounded the day off by anchoring the English quartet to relay victory in 3:37.03.
It was really cool to do a mixture of events, Johnson-Thompson told AW. I did the hurdles, which I really just like to get out the way before I do a heptathlon. The shot put was probably one of the most consistent series [of throws] Ive done in my life and Im really pleased with it.
The 4x400m leg is probably the first and last time Ill do a relay I think! It was stressful competing for England and I normally dont like working in a team just in case I let them down. But it worked out well today.
Thats probably the first and last time Ill do a [4x400m] relay I think! @JohnsonThompson on representing @EnglandAthletic at the Loughborough Invitational
She prepared for @meeting_goetzis with the 100m hurdles, shot put and the 4x400m relay
@TimAdams76 pic.twitter.com/aj1j19iN5j
AW (@AthleticsWeekly) May 22, 2023
Ive done a few relays in France before when it took it a bit easy but this one was a bit more high pressured. Its great practice anyway for the 800m.
Johnson-Thompson flys out to Götzis on Thursday (May 26) and is no stranger to the event, having won it in 2014 and 2019, the latter occurring just five months before she claimed a maiden world heptathlon title.
However, last year she scored the lowest score of her career and Johnson-Thompson knows better than anyone else about the pressure that the multi-events mecca brings.
It feels like a world championships, she added. Theres always been exciting energy at the event and people are always optimistic in Götzis.
It can break your heart but it can also make your dreams come true.
To be fully prepared for the outdoor season and in a bid to reclaim her world heptathlon title, Johnson-Thompson skipped the indoor season and instead focused on her training camps in Turkey and South Africa.
KJT at Loughborough International (James Rhodes)
Now coached by Aston Moore, Johnson-Thompson has found an extra spring in her step and last August she became a double Commonwealth heptathlon champion in Birmingham, her first major accolade in four years.
The next step is to raise that level again against the worlds best but Johnson-Thompson will likely not face Nafi Thiam until the World Championships in Budapest, with the double Olympic and world heptathlon champion missing Götzis.
It was really good as I didnt have an indoor season and its been really useful having that training, just to break it up and get some sunshine, Johnson-Thompson added. Ultimately, youll never know what youll do until you go out there and get to the start line. Ive had great preparation and everything has gone well so far.
[Nafi] Thiam is one of the greatest athletes of any generation. It was so good to see her break the world pentathlon record in Istanbul and its an exciting event. Everyone is raising the game and their levels and hopefully I can join them too.