Katarina Johnson-Thompson suffers injury setback ahead of Olympics

Heptathlon world champion has sustained an Achilles tendon injury

Katarina Johnson-Thompson will be out of action until March (AFP via Getty Images)

Heptathlon world champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson will be out of action until March after sustaining an Achilles tendon injury in training at the end of the year but she says the issue has not affected her plans for the Tokyo Olympics.

The 28-year-old emerged as one of Britain's top gold medal prospects for Tokyo after winning the world title in Doha in 2019 ahead of Rio Olympics champion Nafi Thiam of Belgium.

Johnson-Thompson said she was recovering back home in Liverpool and that her protective boot was due to come off on Monday. She would then head to her training base in Montpellier, France.

"I have been waiting for the right time to share this with you and after a month of positive progress now feels like a good moment. 

"At the very end of last year I sustained an injury to my achilles. As a result of that I have spent the last few weeks in a boot which will be coming off tomorrow. My rehab is going as well as could be expected and whilst I am currently at home in Liverpool focusing on my recovery I will be heading back to Montpellier to begin training again in March. 

"Understandably this is not the start to the year I was hoping for but I’m pleased to be able to share this off the back of a positive few weeks. I have a great team around me and I would like to thank them, along with all of my partners, for their unwavering support through what has been a difficult year for everyone. 

“This news doesn’t impact my plans for 2021, Tokyo is still very much the focus and I look forward to representing Great Britain in my 3rd Olympic Games. Thanks for all your support!”

Johnson-Thompson finished 14th at the 2012 London Olympics and was sixth in Rio four years later. The Tokyo Games are due to begin on 23 July.

Reuters