Heptathlon world champion Johnson-Thompson allays Olympic fitness worries

Heptathlon world champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson has insisted she feels “healthy now” following concerns over her fitness ahead of the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris.

The 31-year-old British track and field star pulled out of the European Championships in Rome earlier this month due to a minor leg injury.

That decision was labelled a precautionary move and Johnson-Thompson was back in action on Saturday at the UK Athletics Championships in Manchester.

“I’m feeling OK,” said Johnson-Thompson after competing in the individual javelin event. “It’s all good.

“I feel healthy now. It was a precaution. I don’t want anything to get in the way of my chance this year of a medal.”

Johnson-Thompson won the second of her two world titles in Budapest last year.

But success at the Olympics has proved elusive, with Johnson-Thompson yet to win a medal at the Games.

Paris represents her fourth bid to finish on an Olympic podium, with her most recent attempt for Games glory at Tokyo three years ago cut short by injury.

Johnson-Thompson will not be under the same pressure as many other British athletes in Manchester this weekend as she has already achieved the Olympic qualification standard in her event.

Instead she will look to hone her form and fitness in selected disciplines of the seven-event heptathlon ahead of the Olympic competition in August.

Johnson-Thompson is entered for the 200 metres and high jump on Sunday but will only be able to compete in one due to a schedule clash at a UK Championships that is also effectively doubling as an Olympic trial for several competitors.

“My weekend is a bit different to everybody else’s,” she said. “My expectations are just seeing what I can do and seeing if I can execute some of the things that I’ve been doing in training.

“So rather than go for a qualification or going for a big score, I just want to work on a few weaknesses.”

Johnson-Thompson was eliminated from the javelin after three throws. with a best of 42.38 metres.

The event was won for a fourth straight year by Bekah Walton, but her best of 54.11 was not good enough for Olympic qualification.

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