In a dramatic conclusion to the heptathlon at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, the 32-year-old Briton secured a joint bronze medal alongside American Taliyah Brooks after both finished on exactly 6,581 points, the first time a world medal has been shared in the event.
Johnson-Thompson Shares Heptathlon Bronze Medal
The Tokyo Olympic Stadium, a place once shadowed by pain for Johnson-Thompson, became the scene of her redemption. Four years ago, she limped off the track here, Olympic dreams shattered by a torn calf. This time, tears still flowed but for an entirely different reason.
As the final 800m race wrapped up, she looked on in confusion. She had done everything right—beaten Brooks by over five seconds, but was it enough?
Then came the big screen moment. Bronze. Her name. And Brooks’. Together.
“I have no words. I’m still in a bit of disbelief. I’ve done this so many times that it doesn’t get any easier. If anything, I had the least confidence coming into this. It really does mean the world to me,” Johnson-Thompson said.
A Full-Circle Moment in Tokyo
Returning to the very stadium where her career seemed over, Johnson-Thompson came not seeking redemption—but found something even more powerful: closure.
Now a four-time global medallist, she completes a remarkable journey that has included winning the world title in Budapest in 2023 and finally securing her long-awaited Olympic medal in Paris earlier this summer.
“I’ve been through it in this stadium. To finish with a medal this time around, I can’t put into words the full-circle moment I’ve just been through,” she admitted.
Bronze by the Barest of Margins
The heptathlon finale was as tense as they come. Johnson-Thompson needed to outpace Brooks by about six seconds in the final 800m to take the bronze outright. She ran 2:07.38. Brooks crossed 5.39 seconds later. It wasn’t clear who had the edge—until the scoreboard lit up.
- Gold: Anna Hall (USA) – 6,888 points
- Silver: Kate O’Connor (Ireland) – 6,714 points
- Bronze: Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Taliyah Brooks – 6,581 points
Katarina Johnson-Thompson wins joint bronze in heptathlon with USA’s Taliyah Brooks! pic.twitter.com/QDmk65jpOM
— TNT Sports (@tntsports) September 20, 2025
This marks a historic silver for Ireland’s O’Connor, becoming the nation’s first global outdoor multi-event medallist. American Hall took the crown with a commanding lead.
Despite a weaker javelin performance, throwing just 41.91m to rank 16th, Johnson-Thompson knew the 800m was her battlefield. And she fought tooth and nail to earn her spot on the podium.
Against the backdrop of Tokyo’s Olympic Stadium, once a place of heartbreak, Johnson-Thompson’s shared bronze wasn’t just a medal. It was proof of resilience, reinvention, and pure determination.
GB’s Mixed Fortunes in Relays and Finals
It wasn’t all joy for Team GB on the penultimate day of the championships.
- The women’s 4x100m relay team made it through to the final, clocking 41.88 seconds. The squad of Dina Asher-Smith, Daryll Neita, Desiree Henry, and Success Eduan now await reinforcement from 200m medallist Amy Hunt.
- But the men’s 4x100m team stumbled, failing to progress after a botched handover between Jona Efoloko and Eugene Amo-Dadzie.
- The men’s 4x400m team secured their place in the final, finishing third in their heat.
- The women’s 4x400m team missed out entirely, finishing eighth in their heat.
Max Burgin Just Misses Podium in Lightning Fast 800m
Elsewhere, Max Burgin delivered the race of his life in the men’s 800m final—just not quite enough for the podium.
The 23-year-old Briton ran a personal best of 1:42.29, inching closer to Sebastian Coe’s legendary national record (1:41.73), but had to settle for sixth.
- Gold: Emmanuel Wanyonyi (Kenya) – 1:41.86 (Championship record)
- Silver: Djamel Sedjati (Algeria)
- Bronze: Marco Arop (Canada)
Looking Ahead: Final Day Hopes for Team GB
As the championships draw to a close, Great Britain sits 22nd in the medal table, three spots above the Republic of Ireland. Two years ago, they ended with a record-equalling 10 medals and a seventh-place finish. Hopes remain for a late surge:
- Keely Hodgkinson aims for glory in the women’s 800m final.
- George Mills lines up in the men’s 5,000m.
- Morgan Lake hopes to reach new heights in the women’s high jump.
- Georgia Hunter-Bell joins Hodgkinson in chasing the 800m podium.
A Legacy in the Making
From heartbreak to history, Katarina Johnson-Thompson’s journey is one of remarkable resilience. She’s not just a medallist. She’s a story of comeback, grit, and unshakable belief.
“I say this when I win and I say it when I lose, give me a month off and I’ll be asking when training is.” That, perhaps, is the spirit that makes champions.
