Britain’s Jessica Ennis-Hill competes in the long jump.. Same actors, different set.
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The 30-year-old will begin the defence of her heptathlon crown at the Olympic Stadium on Friday, with the culmination of the seven-event competition coming the following day, when Mo Farah and Greg Rutherford will also go for gold in the 10,000 metres and long jump respectively.
Also tonight in a stirring climax to the shot put competition American Michelle Carter stunned champion Valerie Adams with a throw of 20.63 meters on her final attempt to win Olympic gold and deny the New Zealander a third successive title. This time it was pure torture.
But the Briton’s 800m best is nearly 10 seconds quicker, meaning she remains favourite for gold should she hold her nerve and form under this most intense pressure.
The Brit posted 2:09.07 (978 points), while Thiam finished in 2:16.54 (871 points) – a result that ensured the youngster went away with a fine gold medal.
There was further heartbreak for Team GB as Katarina Johnson-Thompson missed out on a medal altogether, eventually finishing in a disappointing sixth. “It’s very emotional”, Ennis-Hill said.
“I’m in decent shape”, he had said.
“I have every faith that she can score more and be on the podium”.
She rectified the situation by clocking the fastest time in the 200m, her 23.26 seconds edging out Ennis-Hill’s 23.49secs, but was still left playing catch-up on her team-mate.
“I see it as a massive challenge for me”, she said.
“It is just a really odd time in my career and it is all knew to me and it is going to be big changes”. This could be my last one.
Johnson-Thompson was in contention in the world championships previous year before three fouls in the long jump stopped her in her tracks and she looked similarly distraught after her shot effort.
“I have to make a decision as to whether this is my last heptathlon or not but I’m so proud of what I have achieved over the last few years”.
Thiam’s rise has been rapid and staggering.
Jessica Ennis-Hill is forced to settle for heptathlon silver after a fierce battle with Belgium’s Nafissatou Thiam.
“She’s had two days of unbelievable performances”.
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Belgian Thiem holds a better javelin PB than either Briton, but the duo have historically recorded better 800m times, which will be the final event (02:50 BST). But she just wasn’t quite able to hit the highest notes enough, her long jump of 6.34m and javelin of 46.06 on the second day being good but not exceptional.
