Katarina Johnson-Thompson of Great Britain is leading the heptathlon after getting off to an incredible start in her quest to finally win the Olympic medal that has eluded her thus far.
The 31-year-old reigning world champion Johnson-Thompson is only ahead following the 100-meter hurdles and high jump phases of the seven-event competition.
Johnson-Thompson scored 2,197 points, while Belgian Nafi Thiam, the reigning Olympic champion, came in second with 2,173.
Another Brit With 2,024 points, Jade O’Dowda is ranked ninth, and Ireland’s Kate O’Connor is ranked 19th with 1,908.
Later on Thursday, the shot put and 200m events will take place at the Stade de France. On Friday, the long jump, javelin, and 800m events will determine the medal winners.
In the meantime, the British women’s 4x100m relay team easily advanced to Friday’s championship round after winning their heat.
With a time of 42.03 seconds, Bianca Williams, Imani Lansiquot, Amy Hunt, and Desiree Henry are attempting to win the first medal for Team GB in the competition since 1956.
Britain’s 4x100m relay team had to wait anxiously to hear confirmation of their passage.
After a season-best 38.04, Jeremiah Azu, Louie Hinchliffe, Richard Kilty, and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake had to wait for a photo finish to find out they had placed third in the first heat.
Jamaica, still trying to recover from Usain Bolt’s glory days, failed not advance to Friday’s championship race after finishing fourth in the second race.
KJT demonstrates her wonderful health.
Among the most gifted and well-known athletes of her generation is Johnson-Thompson.
However, the most important prize still eludes her.
After placing 14th in London 2012, sixth in Rio 2016, and having her campaign to Tokyo 2020 cruelly stopped when she tore her calf in the 200m, an Olympic medal has proven to be kryptonite.
Gaining a second global title the previous year was encouraging for her fourth Olympic podium appearance.
But there have also been concerns about fitness entering Paris.
Despite having to have painkiller injections for tendinitis in her Achilles tendon, Johnson-Thompson stated she was “in good shape” prior to the start of the heptathlon on Thursday.
The 100-meter hurdles’ first event is usually a reliable indicator, and Johnson-Thompson made a strong debut.
She tied for eighth place in the first heat after finishing runner-up with a season-best time of 13.40 seconds, earning 1,065 points.
The next event was the high jump, which was one of Johnson-Thompson’s best.
Johnson-Thompson, who started at 1.77 meters, leaped cleanly to reach 1.92 meters, her greatest height in five years, but she was unable to surpass 1.95 meters.
After an exciting start, it concluded a two-way duel with Thiam, who also failed to clear the height, and puts them ahead of the field.
