Johnson-Thompson says Liverpool gave her a ‘never-give-up attitude’

Katarina Johnson-Thompson has described her love for Liverpool and how the city gave her a “never-give-up attitude”, after winning her first Olympic medal.

The Liverpudlian took silver in the heptathlon on Friday in Paris, coming second to Belgian rival Nafissatou Thiam.

Johnson-Thompson, 31, on Saturday spoke about her love for Liverpool and how it shaped her as a person.

I love the people of Liverpool and I love what they stand for and that shapes my character, of that never-give-up attitude, and that underdog attitude and yes, it means the world

Katarina Johnson-Thompson

She said: “Liverpool is my home, it always is my home even if I train and live elsewhere.

“I love the people of Liverpool and I love what they stand for and that shapes my character, of that never-give-up attitude, and that underdog attitude and yes, it means the world.

“I started my career at Liverpool Harriers and I’m indebted to them as well.”

Johnson-Thompson said the silver medal was “a long time coming”.

“It feels incredible that you know we got one over the line. It’s been a long time coming, it’s been a very short cycle but it’s my fourth Olympics and I’m really happy to add that medal to my collection,” she said.

Katarina Johnson-Thompson during the heptathlon high jump (Martin Rickett/PA)PA Wire/PA Images - Martin Rickett

Johnson-Thompson said: “I’ve got absolutely no regrets. I tried my absolute best and my best on that day was second place by about 30 points, so you know I was very close to an Olympic gold medal and to me that’s just validated our team’s belief that it was possible.”

Asked if there were times she doubted she would get there, she said: “I’ve had doubts all the time, every athlete I feel like, even if they don’t admit it, always has doubts – crippling doubts, but luckily I’ve got a team around me that has the belief in me that I sometimes don’t have in myself, and that leads me to do great things and I’m so grateful to them.”

Asked about her plans for the future, she said: “I feel like as long as I’m competitive I will continue to do heptathlon.

“I’m really happy that I’m able to put together my heptathlon in a different way now and it’s given me such longevity in the sport.

“I’m really really excited for the next couple of years.”