BBC commentator fights back tears as she pays emotional tribute to Katarina Johnson-Thompson after her Olympic silver medal

KATARINA JOHNSON-THOMPSON’S narrow shot at gold prompted a tearful tribute from a BBC analyst.

KJT’s training partner Jazmin Sawyers was left with a lump in her throat as he watched the Liverpool athlete win silver in the heptathlon at Paris 2024, behind three-time Olympic gold medallist Nafi Thiam.

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Johnson-Thompson put eight years of injuries and frustration behind him with a heroic performance and the first-ever Olympic trophy

The 31-year-old had to beat Thiam by more than eight seconds in the last event, the 800 meters, and thus set a personal record.

However, her time of 2:04.90 was just under six seconds faster than that of her Belgian competitor, who recorded her fastest time ever with a time of 2:10.62.

Thiam thus took gold for the third consecutive time with only 36 POINTS.

That left long jumper Sawyers, who was “devastated” by his injury and had to miss the Olympic Games in Paris, an emotional message for KJT.

As the BBC showed the athletes reacting with exhaustion to their efforts, she said: “Kat, if you ever watch this back, we are so proud of you.

“You know, coming back for the fourth time and getting your medal is really amazing.

“She did everything she could to achieve this personal record.”

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And as her voice seemed to crack, Sawyers added: “Nafi Thiam was sensational, but we are so proud of Kat.”

Jessica Ennis-Hill, winner of the Team GB heptathlon at London 2012, agreed.

She told the BBC: “Kat should be so proud… the resilience she has shown to keep coming back.”

Ennis-Hill added: “The last two years we’ve just seen a different Kat.

“She has a very light-hearted personality. You can see that she is so present and competitive.”

KJT himself said, “I am so happy. No complaints. I am grateful and emotional and overwhelmed.

“I have no regrets. I’m so happy to be going home with an Olympic medal.

“Ultimately it’s relief. When I crossed the finish line tonight I was running for gold. I had such mixed feelings about it.

“I was grieving for gold, but also wanted to fight for gold and celebrate it. I had so many different emotions that crossed the line.

“To be on the podium is such an honor. Olympic cycles can be brutal. I know that better than anyone.”

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