Full Name
Katarina Johnson-Thompson
Company
World Heptathlon Champion & Paris 2024 Olympic Silver Medallist
Speaker Bio
KJT, the current World Heptathlon Champion, has already established herself as one of the greatest ever all-round athletes. An international honours list that includes being a two-time World Champion, two-time Commonwealth Champion, a World Indoor Champion, a two-time European Indoor Champion, a World Junior Champion as well as currently holding national records in both the Heptathlon and Pentathlon, the Liverpool born-and-bred girl has become a global sporting icon.
Known for her indecisiveness; her X (formerly Twitter) profile reads “chronically indecisive so I’ve adopted two surnames and the heptathlon”; KJT got into the sport because she “wanted to try everything”. However, her talent was obvious from an early age. At 11 years old, Katarina was encouraged to try the high jump for the first time at her school sports day which resulted in her setting a new school record and the records have been tumbling ever since.
Ranked the World’s best athlete at just 21, KJT has enjoyed some remarkable successes and overcome multiple high-profiled setbacks throughout her career. Having overcome adversity and achieved the seemingly impossible on many occasions, KJT encapsulates the beautiful unknown of sport and is the epitome of grit, determination, and ambition. In 2018, KJT was considered the underdog when she won her first senior World and Commonwealth titles. The following year she backed it up by going undefeated in all multi-event competitions and was crowned European Indoor Champion and World Champion. On a roll, looking unbeatable and established as the world’s best athlete, 2020 brought about the Covid-19 pandemic which delayed KJT’s quest for Olympic gold with the Tokyo Olympics postponed by 12 months. During this delay, Katarina suffered a freak injury, fully rupturing her Achillies tendon and went from gold medal favourite to having 1% chance of making the Olympic start line.
Having just 8 months to the start of the Olympics, Katarina defined the odds to take her place in Team GB and after 3 events, half-way through the Heptathlon, was placed inside the top 5. The impossible dream was becoming a possibility before injury struck in the 4th event and her competition was over. Back on the operating table, Katarina had to undergo further surgery to her calf but just a couple years on from what many thought would be a career-ending injury, KJT showcased her never-give-up spirit to produce a scintillating performance and defy the odds to win gold at the 2023 World Athletics Championships; once again reigning supreme as the world’s best all-round athlete.
Already considered the UK’s most popular contemporary and most famous sportswomen, KJT further cemented her place as a national heroin when she was at the centre of an epic 2-day battle at the Paris 2024 Olympics to, valiantly triumph and receive a silver medal at her 4th Olympics.
A natural flair both on and off track that endears her to many, KJT founded the KJT Academy, providing support to aspiring athletes from state-school and BAME backgrounds to access opportunities they have previously not had equal opportunities too and delivers accessible community athletics programme with LFC Foundation that provides children from disadvantaged areas access to sport and physical activity without financial restrictions.
Alleviating unnecessary obstacles that allows people to access sport is something that Katarina is passionate about as she strives for equality in enabling people the chance to fulfil their potential.
Known for her indecisiveness; her X (formerly Twitter) profile reads “chronically indecisive so I’ve adopted two surnames and the heptathlon”; KJT got into the sport because she “wanted to try everything”. However, her talent was obvious from an early age. At 11 years old, Katarina was encouraged to try the high jump for the first time at her school sports day which resulted in her setting a new school record and the records have been tumbling ever since.
Ranked the World’s best athlete at just 21, KJT has enjoyed some remarkable successes and overcome multiple high-profiled setbacks throughout her career. Having overcome adversity and achieved the seemingly impossible on many occasions, KJT encapsulates the beautiful unknown of sport and is the epitome of grit, determination, and ambition. In 2018, KJT was considered the underdog when she won her first senior World and Commonwealth titles. The following year she backed it up by going undefeated in all multi-event competitions and was crowned European Indoor Champion and World Champion. On a roll, looking unbeatable and established as the world’s best athlete, 2020 brought about the Covid-19 pandemic which delayed KJT’s quest for Olympic gold with the Tokyo Olympics postponed by 12 months. During this delay, Katarina suffered a freak injury, fully rupturing her Achillies tendon and went from gold medal favourite to having 1% chance of making the Olympic start line.
Having just 8 months to the start of the Olympics, Katarina defined the odds to take her place in Team GB and after 3 events, half-way through the Heptathlon, was placed inside the top 5. The impossible dream was becoming a possibility before injury struck in the 4th event and her competition was over. Back on the operating table, Katarina had to undergo further surgery to her calf but just a couple years on from what many thought would be a career-ending injury, KJT showcased her never-give-up spirit to produce a scintillating performance and defy the odds to win gold at the 2023 World Athletics Championships; once again reigning supreme as the world’s best all-round athlete.
Already considered the UK’s most popular contemporary and most famous sportswomen, KJT further cemented her place as a national heroin when she was at the centre of an epic 2-day battle at the Paris 2024 Olympics to, valiantly triumph and receive a silver medal at her 4th Olympics.
A natural flair both on and off track that endears her to many, KJT founded the KJT Academy, providing support to aspiring athletes from state-school and BAME backgrounds to access opportunities they have previously not had equal opportunities too and delivers accessible community athletics programme with LFC Foundation that provides children from disadvantaged areas access to sport and physical activity without financial restrictions.
Alleviating unnecessary obstacles that allows people to access sport is something that Katarina is passionate about as she strives for equality in enabling people the chance to fulfil their potential.
Speaking At
