As Johnson-Thompson crouched on the observe, eyes mounted on the massive display screen which appeared to take an age to show the total outcomes, she wore a glance of acceptance – conscious she had not fairly been capable of produce the sensational end required for gold.
However when Thiam’s sixth-place end flashed up, confirming the 29-year-old had performed sufficient, it didn’t take lengthy for Johnson-Thompson’s expression to alter.
A beaming smile unfold as a lifelong dream finally got here true, Johnson-Thompson donning a silver tiara and waving her nation’s flag proudly above her head.
She had gritted her enamel by means of the ultimate metres of the race, the lactic constructing with each stride, years of damage channelled into each stride.
The hole would develop – simply not sufficient.
Johnson-Thompson was at all times going to complete forward of Thiam, however the margin required for victory appeared unlikely towards a competitor of her opponent’s stature and expertise.
Thiam turned the youngest Olympic heptathlon gold medallist in historical past along with her first triumph aged 21 and has now received 10 of the 11 worldwide titles she has contested since that breakout triumph.
The one exception? Silver as Johnson-Thompson received the 2019 world title.
Johnson-Thompson has needed to overcome a career-threatening Achilles rupture and a devastating mid-competition damage on the Tokyo Olympics, however in Thiam’s absence she returned to the highest of the world final yr to finish a exceptional turnaround in her profession.
Match and firing as soon as once more in Paris, she pushed Thiam all the best way to have an opportunity of gold, and Olympic silver after world gold represents a becoming reward for her perseverance.
“I needed to compete and I needed to have the ability to reply. I knew coming into the champs I used to be in fine condition – bodily, mentally, emotionally,” Johnson-Thompson mentioned.
“Immediately I proved to myself that I can have that aggressive power. These third time jumps, third time throws and clearances. I’m simply so proud of how every little thing went, I’ve received no complaints.”
