Katarina Johnson-Thompson, the 33-year-old Olympic silver medalist, has suggested she may consider retiring from heptathlon after finishing last at the European Championships in Birmingham. Johnson-Thompson recorded one of the lowest scores of her career, totaling 5,790 points, placing her 21st out of 21 finishers.
Suffering from a recent calf issue, she appeared unfit during the competition and effectively jogged the 800-meter final event. This result marks her second-worst score in 14 years as a professional athlete. Johnson-Thompson had previously skipped the Commonwealth Games to focus on the European Championships but never appeared to be in race shape.
Her performance included a long jump of 5.77 meters, after which she forfeited her remaining two attempts. A javelin throw of 36.92 meters and an 800-meter time of 2:24.92 were consistent with scores well below her personal bests throughout the event.
Questions about Johnson-Thompson's future in elite competition, particularly concerning a potential appearance at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, now arise. She has previously stated her intention to compete in the Olympics, but recurring injuries may prompt discussions with her coach, Aston Moore.
"I am thinking of the future," Johnson-Thompson said. "I always said that I want to be competitive. If I am not competitive, then I’ll start to ask questions."
Despite the setbacks, she added that the hunger to compete remains. "The hunger is definitely still there and I love this event so much."
In related news, fellow British athlete Laura Muir, also 33 and dealing with injury, did not qualify for the 1500m final. Georgia Hunter Bell, however, is set to compete as a favorite in her event. Bell, who turned professional in 2024, expressed her enjoyment of the sport, noting her rapid progress from a previous office job.