Katarina Johnson-Thompson: I’ve got my hunger back

Katarina Johnson-Thompson insists she has rediscovered her hunger despite losing her world heptathlon title.

The 29-year-old finished eighth at the World Championships in Eugene as Nafi Thiam regained the crown she lost to Johnson-Thompson in 2019.

The British star earned 6222 points after two days of competition in Oregon with the Netherlands’ Anouk Vetter and the USA’s Anna Hall second and third respectively.

After an injury-hit 18 months and a late change of coach she was not expected to retain the title she won with a British record in Doha.

It was also unrealistic to expect a podium challenge after serious calf and Achilles injuries and she finished 533 points behind the medal places but admits she has reignited the fire.

Johnson-Thompson said: “I love the sport. Last year set me back, life isn’t fair and I was questioning that. After the championships I wanted to take time away from the sport, I don’t want to do this, how can it be fair an Achilles can just rupture?

“This time I actually feel I’ve got my hunger back. I’ve been away from the championships but it’s like I want to put in the work and get back to where I was.

“As soon as I finished I took in the moment, it’s a different mentality. It’ll be motivation for me through the winter.”

After day one left her sixth, Johnson-Thompson said she was in Eugene to fight as she regains top fitness and confidence but a poor long jump of 6.28m pushed her further back to seventh after collecting 937 points.

A best effort of 39.18m in the javelin saw the Commonwealth Games champion lose further ground and she ran two minutes 19.16 seconds in the 800m.

She will now focus on defending her Commonwealth Games title in Birmingham.

“I’ve still got a heptathlon coming up in two