Tokyo 2020: Team GB's Katarina Johnson-Thompson pulls out of heptathlon with calf injury

Great Britain’s Katarina Johnson-Thompson has pulled out of the heptathlon at the Tokyo Olympics with a calf injury, British Athletics has confirmed.

The world champion ruptured her Achilles in December but it was her calf that was unable to take the strain of her first major heptathlon since as she pulled up during the 200 metres.

A statement read: “Katarina Johnson-Thompson sustained an injury to her right calf during the 200m and has had to withdraw from the heptathlon.”

“It is not a repeat of her recent Achilles injury which was on her left leg.”

Johnson-Thompson refused treatment and a wheelchair on the track to pick herself up and finish the race, limping over the line, but was disqualified for leaving her lane after falling.

The 28-year-old was spotted having treatment between jumps in the high jump on Wednesday morning and seemed to be limping then.

She fought back from the serious injury and surgery in December and had downplayed her medal chances but was sitting fifth after three events before disaster struck with around 100m to go.

It was due to be her first full heptathlon since winning the world title in Doha in 2019 due to the pandemic and injury.

Her disqualification left her last and 1,082 points behind overnight leader Anouk Vetter. Defending champion Nafi Thiam sits third.

Johnson-Thompson dropped to fifth after the shot put, her first event of the night, and was 139 points adrift of Thiam, although only 45 off Noor Vidts in third.

She had opened the morning with a strong 100 metres hurdles winning her heat in 13.27 seconds – her second fastest time ever.

In the high jump she cleared 1.86m – 12cm off her personal best – and failed at 1.89m to leave her with 2138 points.