PARIS — Katarina Johnson-Thompson claimed her first Olympic medal but narrowly missed out on gold in a dramatic end to the heptathlon at the Stade de France.
The reigning world champion needed to beat Belgium’s Nafi Thiam by more than 8.5 seconds in the 800m to grab gold, and she set a new personal best in a lung-busting effort.
But Thiam crossed the line just five seconds behind to successfully defend the title she won in both Rio and Tokyo – and leave Johnson-Thompson with silver.
Johnson-Thompson’s final score across the seven events was 6,844, the second best of her career.
“I can’t even describe the words, I’m just so relieved and so happy to add an Olympic medal to my collection,” Johnson-Thompson said.
“It’s the only one I didn’t have. It’s been so hard getting back to this point. In the lead up to this Games, all I’ve been saying is I wanted to have a chance.
“I can’t complain, there was a chance of gold in that 800m but we both ran personal bests, so what more can you do?
“I wanted to compete and be able to respond. I knew I was in good shape physically, mentally and emotionally. I’ve proven to myself I have competitive energy when things gets tense. I’m just so happy with how everything went, I have no complaints.”
Also on the track, Team GB came close to gold in the women’s 4x100m relay but still continued their fine recent record in the event with a silver medal.
After a solid start from Dina Asher-Smith and Imani-Lara Lansiquot, a sloppy changeover between Amy Hunt on the third leg and anchor Daryll Neita left them with too much to do to overhaul USA in the closing metres.
Neita was closing on Sha’Carri Richardson but crossed the line 0.07s behind the American, with Germany taking bronze.
Zharnel Hughes also ran a searing anchor leg to lift Team GB to bronze in a chaotic men’s 4x100m relay.
The 29-year-old, who withdrew from the 200m due to a hamstring issue, split a stunning 9.78s to lift Britain to bronze in a time of 37.61.
Earlier, Toby Roberts secured a historic gold as he became Team GB’s first sport climbing Olympic champion.
The 19-year-old, who first started climbing aged just three, clinched the men’s combined lead crown in dramatic fashion.
He finished second in the first part of the competition with 63.1 boulder points before falling just short of the top of the lead climb, to secure at least a silver medal with only Sorato Anraku left to climb.
But Roberts’ victory was confirmed when world number one Anraku slipped off the wall just a few metres from gold and was left to settle for second.
“I’m just absolutely lost for words,” Roberts said after the event. “To find out that I got the gold in that moment, it was just truly incredible.
At the velodrome, Elinor Barker became Wales’ most decorated female Olympian as she and Neah Evans powered to silver in a thrilling finish to the madison.
Always one of the spectacles of the Games, the chaotic race – with 15 teams of two riders competing for points in a series of sprints – came down to the last of 120 laps.
The pair were seemingly set for bronze but Evans bolted clear of the chasing pack to upgrade to silver, while Italy took gold.
Jack Carlin won bronze in the men’s sprint for the second straight Olympics by edging a nervy decider against Jeffrey Hoogland.
Carlin was sweating on a possible disqualification after crashing into the Dutchman but regained his composure at the restart to take the series 2-1.
Divers Yasmin Harper and Grace Reid missed out on medals in the women’s three-metre springboard final.
Harper finished fifth overall with a score of 305.10, with teammate Reid in 10th place.
Reigning men’s modern pentathlon champion Joe Choong scraped into the final as the eighth best qualifier.
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