Paris 2024 Olympics LIVE: Katarina Johnson-Thompson is OVERTAKEN - with a mountain to climb - as GB's Toby Roberts drops in the bouldering... but 'world's sexiest athlete' loses out

Paris 2024 Olympics LIVE: Katarina Johnson-Thompson is OVERTAKEN - with a mountain to climb - as GB's Toby Roberts drops in the bouldering... but 'world's sexiest athlete' loses out
By: dailymail Posted On: August 09, 2024 View: 165

Thiam leads by 121 points to KJT

Three and done for Nafi Thiam.

her final throw is another mammoth total of 52.56m, but it means she doesn't improve on her incredible effort earlier.

If she had, the gold medal would have been hers.

But there is still hope for Katarina Johnson-Thompson, she just needs to run incredibly well in the 800m.

The leaderboard shows that she is 121 points behind Nafi Thiam going into the final event.

Their PB's are six seconds apart in the 800m - that's not enough.

PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 09: Nafissatou Thiam of Team Belgium reacts while competing in the Women's Heptathlon Javelin Throw on day fourteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on August 09, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

'World's sexist athlete', crashes OUT

Not everyone can have everything, right?

Alison Schmidt has not had the day she was after, she and her 4x400m German relay team did not make it out of the heats.

They finished a disappointing seventh, meaning the woman dubbed as the 'world's sexiest athlete' won't contest the final.

Read more, below:

McArthur in second

It's going to be a really anxious wait for Hamish McArthur.

He has just fallen into second place behind USA's Colin Duffy who now has an overall score of 136.4.

There are still many climbers to go.

Thiam in control?

I'll answer... she is.

Nafi Thiam will be the favourite now heading into the 800m tonight thanks to that throw.

I mean, it was an absolute monster.

She will have a lead of nearly 120 points going into the final event which is around eight seconds in a run.

Katarina Johnson-Thompson may be good, but eight seconds is a lot to claw back in an 800m race.

She will have to have the run of her life.

Paris 2024 Olympics - Athletics - Women's Heptathlon Javelin Throw - Gp B - Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France - August 09, 2024.  Nafissatou Thiam of Belgium reacts. REUTERS/Aleksandra Szmigiel

Monster throw from Thiam

Oh my word, what a throw!

We all knew Nafi Thiam was good but she has just produced a mammoth throw in the javelin to wrestle the lead in the heptathlon.

She launches the javelin to 54.04m, nine metres more than Katarina Johnson-Thompson's score.

It means she will go over 100 points into the lead going into the final event.

That is a lot of points.

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Shutterstock (14628610ad) Belgian athlete Nafissatou Thiam celebrates during the javelin, sixth event of the women's heptathlon at the athletics competition at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, on Friday 09 August 2024 in Paris, France. The Games of the XXXIII Olympiad are taking place in Paris from 26 July to 11 August. The Belgian delegation counts 165 athletes competing in 21 sports. Olympics 2024 Paris Day 14 Athletics Heptathlon, Paris, France - 09 Aug 2024

McArthur leads the way

Wow. That is impressive stuff from Hamish McArthur.

The show of strength to manoeuvre that lead wall is sensational, he did a one-arm pull-up at one point.

I can't even do one with two arms and a leg up...

He scores a brilliant 72 points and jumps to the top of the leaderboard on 125.9 overall.

Admittedly, he is the only person to have done this climb.

Paris 2024 Olympics - Climbing - Men's Boulder & Lead, Final Lead - Le Bourget Sport Climbing Venue, Le Bourget, France - August 09, 2024. Hamish McArthur of Britain in action. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

WATCH: Sember falls

This is a hard watch.

Cindy Sember was going strong until bang, it was all over in a flash.

Not only was it painful for her to not make it through, but that hit into the hurdle looked like it really hurt.

Those hurdles aren't exactly soft.

Sember: 'I'm really sad'

Team GB's Cindy Sember, after a DNF in 100m hurdles, speaking to BBC Sport:

I’m ok. I’m really sad. I’m just frustrated because I have been training so hard, I’m ready – I’m sad. I feel I was coming to the hurdles very quickly, and I lost my control, unfortunately. I was very ready, it’s a little hard to take in.
Britain's Cindy Sember reacts after competing in the women's 100m hurdles semi-final of the athletics event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on August 9, 2024. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP) (Photo by ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP via Getty Images)

Time to climb

Alexa, play The Climb by Miley Cyrus.

If I was Toby Roberts or Hamish McArthur, that would be the track that I would be whacking on before this big climb.

It's now time for the two Brits to take on the lead climb, the final portion of the boulder and lead men's final.

Basically, they just climb as high up a wall as they can for six minutes.

It's not actually that simple but I don't want to have two write an essay for you all to read.

that explanation will do...

'No room for error'

Colin Jackson, Two-time world 110m hurdles champion, on BBC One:

Unfortunately for Cindy Sember, she caught up with one of the barriers early and because you're moving so quickly, make one tiny mistake, she dropped her trail foot, and no room for error, no room for any movement, you just hit the deck.

Sember falls in 100m hurdles SF

Cindy Sember has just had a disaster in her 100m hurdles semi-final...

The Team GB athlete has just fallen over after clipping one of the hurdles before smashing into another.

She can't get up and continue, and that's her race over.

One small mistake and it's over within a split second. Devastating.

PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 09: Cindy Sember of Team Great Britain reacts after falling down during the Women's 100m Hurdles Semi-Final on day fourteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on August 09, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 09: Cindy Sember of Team Great Britain reacts after competing in the Women's 100m Hurdles Semi-Final on day fourteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on August 09, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

Next up: Nafi Thiam

How will Katarina Johnson-Thompson be feeling, right now?

She now has the anxious wait to see how Nafi Thiam does in the Javelin after throwing the gauntlet down.

She knows Thiam will do better, but it's just how much she beats it by. It's crucial.

Then a long wait until the 800m finale tonight.

Paris 2024 Olympics - Athletics - Women's Heptathlon Long Jump - Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France - August 09, 2024. Nafissatou Thiam of Belgium reacts after her jump REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

Pattison: 'Not my day'

Team GB's Ben Pattison, 800m semi-finalist, speaking to BBC Sport:

I knew straight away that time wouldn’t be good enough. This is the Olympics, 1m 45s is not good enough. I’m very disappointed – I felt like I didn’t have it in me today, I don’t know why. I’ll have to watch it back, see if I ran wide , see if I did too much work early on.
Not my day today, I let myself down but it’s the Olympics, I’m learning, I’ll learn a lot from that race but gutted. In the first lap my legs didn’t feel right. I don’t know if that was in my head but or the pushing and shoving, whether it was something to do with that. But no excuses, I just didn’t have it on the day, unfortunately.
Great Britain's Ben Pattison reacts after his Men's 800m Semi-Final at the Stade de France on the fourteenth day of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games in France. Picture date: Friday August 9, 2024. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Martin Rickett/PA Wire.RESTRICTIONS: Use subject to restrictions. Editorial use only, no commercial use without prior consent from rights holder.

Roberts and McArthur fighting for medals

There has been intense climbing action this morning that I have to update you on.

I have seen someone describe it as the best round of climbing they have ever seen.

That's some high praise.

Great Britain have two climbers as a part of the men's boulder and lead final - Toby Roberts and Hamish McArthur.

Roberts has been superb and sits in the bronze medal position on 63.1 points.

McArthur is right on his shoulder, though, sitting in fourth after a superb performance brought him up to 53.9 points.

There is just the lead wall to go. Can either, or even both, of the medal?

PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 09: Toby Roberts of Great Britain reacts  in the Men's Boulder & Lead, Final Boulder on day fourteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Le Bourget Sport Climbing Venue on August 09, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 09: Hamish McArthur of Great Britain  competes in the Men's Boulder & Lead, Final Boulder on day fourteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Le Bourget Sport Climbing Venue on August 09, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

'What a time to run your personal best'

Paula Radcliffe, Former marathon runner, on BBC One:

What a time to run your personal best, exactly when he needed to. He kept calm. Composed smart running by Max Bergin.

Max Burgin through to 800m final

What a time to deliver!

After two British athletes falter before him, Team GB's Max Burgin sets a personal best of 1m 45.50s to finish third in the 800m semi-final.

It's fast, and it may just have got him a spot in the final.

There's a huge smile on his face as he discovers that he will be in the final tomorrow evening.

Brilliant stuff from Burgin.

Paris 2024 Olympics - Athletics - Men's 800m Semi-Final - Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France - August 09, 2024. Max Burgin of Britain reacts after competing in semi final 3. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier

Improvement for KJT on final throw

Look at the flight on that bad boy!

Katarina Johnson-Thompson really is on form at the moment and she has just thrown a 45.49m in her final attempt in the javelin.

It was imperative for her to do well, and she has done just that.

Nafi Thiam goes in the next pool and expect her to throw a lot further than that and maybe take the overall lead.

But the 800m tonight is Johnsson-Thompson's bread and butter, but that's not the case for Thiam.

It's going to be so, so close. I can't call it.

PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 09: Katarina Johnson-Thompson of Team Great Britain competes in the Women's Heptathlon Javelin Throw on day fourteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on August 09, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

Fifth for Giles

Ahhhh, it's not to be for Elliot Giles.

The GB runner was in a strong position coming into the final straight but it got so crowded and he could not break through it.

Ben Pattison is now also officially out due to the times in that semi-final.

More disappointment for the Brits.

PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 09:  Elliot Giles of Team Great Britain competes during the Men's 800m Semi-Final on day fourteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on August 09, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Giles up next...

One semi-final down, two to go.

After Ben Pattison's disappointing display, can Elliot Giles defy the odds and make it through to the final?

He was only called up to the Games last week after Jake Wightman had to pull out with injury.

Now here he is in an Olympic semi-final. Pretty crazy, isn't it?

Pattison fourth in SF

It's not to be for Ben Pattison, he finishes fourth in his semi-final which is not enough to qualify for the final.

The Briton dug deep on the final straight but he just couldn't get those legs turning quick enough.

The time is 1.45.57, which surely won't be quick enough to go through as a fastest loser. Well, in my opinion, it isn't.

A real shame.

Paris 2024 Olympics - Athletics - Men's 800m Semi-Final - Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France - August 09, 2024. Catalin Tecuceanu of Italy and Ben Pattison of Britain in action during semi final 1. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier

Time for Pattison!

Ben Pattison's time has come.

The British runner is just about to set off in the men's 800m semi-final.

He is the first of three Team GB athletes to take this race on, can he get the team off to a perfect start?

Paris 2024 Olympics - Athletics - Men's 800m Round 1 - Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France - August 07, 2024. Ben Pattison of Britain reacts after winning heat 5. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier

Big first throw for KJT

Did I say this was not a strong event for Katarina Johnson-Thomspson?

Well, she has just shut me up!

The Briton has just thrown 44.64 which is a fantastic first attempt, just two metres less than her lifetime best.

A very good sign for her.

Hudson-Smith: 'I'm going to be sick'

Matt Hudson-Smiith has just been talking and it's fair to say he is feeling a little rough...

He has just run in the men's 4x400m relay for Great Britain to help them qualify for the final.

The Brit has just said he 'is going to be sick' when asked how he is feeling.

He had to leave the interview because of it... I hope they had a bucket ready.

Got to rate the honesty.

PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 09: Matthew Hudson-Smith of Team Great Britain looks on ahead of  on day fourteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on August 09, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

France win second heat

The Stade de France lets out a huge roar.

Why you ask? well, the answer is in the sub-heading.

France have won the second heat of the men's 4x400m relay to qualify for the final.

What a race, by the way.

South Africa fell over and missed out, then there was a crazy sprint finish from Nigeria to take second.

I love the drama, don't you?

KJT back out

And we go again.

The events come thick and fast in the heptathlon and Katarina Johnson-Thompson is already back out after a short break.

The Javelin is due to start in a few minutes. The next hour could massively change the course of this event.

Can Johnson-Thompson deliver in one of her weaker events?

Team GB in the men's final

There was never any doubt was there?

Great Britain have done their job, they are through to the men's 4x400m final comfortably in the end.

They finish second in their heat behind Botswana with the USA just about squeezing through in third after a terrible start.

Great racing.

PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 09: Matthew Hudson-Smith of Team Great Britain competes in the Men's 4 x 400m Relay Round 1 on day fourteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on August 09, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

Now time for the GB men

Now this could be tasty.

Great Britain are about to go in the men's 4x400m relay in a really, really tough heat.

The big guns are in action for the Brits, with silver medalist in the individual, Matt Hudson-Smith, going on the second leg.

Charlie Dobson will anchor them home.

Ireland qualify for 4x400m final

Fair play to Team Ireland!

The Irish quartet have just stormed through to the 4x400m women's relay final finishing second in their heat.

Kudos to Sharlene Mawdesley, in particular. Her final leg was gutsy and fast. Great running.

Keep the relays coming, I just love them.

KJT still leads after five

All is still looking good for Katarina Johnson-Thompson.

The Briton still leads the heptathlon with five events now in the bank and just two to go.

It seems she is now mainly in the battle for gold with Nafi Thiam, a medal will likely come her way.

The next event is the big one, though. The Javelin. Thiam loves the event, Johnson-Thompson not so much.

GB through to final

That was a little too close for comfort for Great Britain's women but they do qualify for the 4x400m final, finishing second in their heat.

Three minutes 24.72 seconds is a decent time, to be fair to them. A season's best in fact.

Now they just have to rest up.

PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 09: Yemi Mary John, Hannah Kelly, Jodie Williams, Lina Nielsen of Team Great Britain react after competing in the during the Women's 4 x 400m Relay Round 1 on day fourteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on August 09, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

GB in 4x400m relay action

Now this will be good!

Great Britain are about to take to the track in the women's 4x400m relay.

The Brits have some strong 400m runners but are missing some of their big guns due to the individual.

Can they make it through?

No improvement for Thiam

Well then, not what Nafi Thiam will have wanted.

She does not improve on her final jump, in fact, she actually jumps the exact same distance of 6.41.

There's practically nothing in it between the reigning champion and Katarina Johnson-Thompson.

It's so tense.

Now on to the next event of the Javelin!

Paris 2024 Olympics - Athletics - Women's Heptathlon Long Jump - Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France - August 09, 2024.  Nafissatou Thiam of Belgium in action. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

'KJT still in it'

Jazmin Sawyers, Great Britain long jumper, BBC Radio 5 Live:

Katarina Johnson-Thompson can breath a sigh of relief. It is not a huge jump that she might have been hoping for, but that keeps her in it.

KJT improves on final jump

Katarina Johnson-Thompson takes a huge breath as she prepares for her final jump.

The Briton waits a while before launching her run-up, you can see just how big this jump is on her face.

Here she goes.... and it's a much better jump!

6.40m, just one centimetre behind her rival Nafi Thiam.

Oh boy, she needed that jump to keep her in the hunt for gold, and she got it.

And breathe.

PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 09: Katarina Johnson-Thompson of Team Great Britain competes during the Women's Heptathlon Long Jump on day fourteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on August 09, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Lyles Olympics over?

Well, it seems that way.

While the hep[tathlon is ongoing I thought I would talk about Noah Lyles quickly.

After winning bronze last night he revealed he had been suffering from Covid - not ideal really.

And well, it seems his Games are over.

The men's 100m Olympic champion has tweeted that he thinks his Olympics are over after last night.

That means no relays for him...

Thiam puts in strong jump

Oooooo, Nafi Thiam has just put in a big jump.

She leaps 6.41m, nearly 40cm more than Katarina Johnson-Thompson.

The significance of that jump could be huge if the Briton can't respond.

KJT jumps 6.04m

It's better, but it's not fantastic.

Katarina Johnson-Thompson does not abandon her second attempt but only goes 6.04m.

She has the ability to jump way over 6.50, so a fair way off that for now.

She needs to nail her final jump.

Poor first jump for KJT

Erm... that's a bit strange.

Katarina Johnson-Thompson starts her run-up and goes to leap off the board, but abandons in mid-air.

It means she jumps just 4.65m but in reality that was just a large stride for her.

She smirks slightly before chatting to her coach, she doesn't seem too stressed about it.

Two jumps to go.

Paris 2024 Olympics - Athletics - Women's Heptathlon Long Jump - Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France - August 09, 2024.  Katarina Johnson-Thompson of Britain in action. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

'KJT and Thiam in a similar position'

Jazmin Sawyers, Great Britain long jumper, BBC Radio 5 Live:

This long jump is very important. Kat [Johnson-Thompson] and Nafi [Thiam] are both in a similar position. If one of them can pull away in the long jump that would be so significant.

48-point lead for KJT at start of day two

Katarina Johnson-Thompson's dream of an Olympic medal could come true today.

After four events in the heptathlon yesterday, the Team GB athlete has a 48-point lead over Olympic champion Nafi Thiam.

With three events still to go today, it's still all to play for.

Johnson-Thomspon is now in the Stade de France as she prepares for her first event of the day, the long jump.

She's good at long jumping, so it's a big one for her.

PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 08: Katarina Johnson-Thompson of Team Great Britain reacts after competing in the Women's Heptathlon Shot Put on day thirteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on August 08, 2024 in Paris, France.  (Photo by Andy Cheung/Getty Images)

Pardoe finishes sixth in 10km swim

If you're only just getting up, you have already missed some action.

The river Seine played host to the men's 10km marathon swimming this morning with two Brits in action.

One of them was Hector Pardoe who was looking for redemption following his exit from the Tokyo race three years ago.

And he performed brilliantly.

After a grueling battle, Pardoe finished in sixth place in one of the most entertaining open water races in some time.

Meanwhile, Toby Robinson of Great Britain finished down in 14th.

It was a great advert for marathon swimming. If you managed to catch any of it, it surely made you smile.

I won't be wanting to get into a dirty river any time soon, though.

PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 09: Hector Pardoe of Team Great Britain competes in the Marathon Swimming Men's 10k on day fourteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Pont Alexandre III on August 09, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)

Eventful morning at the Stade de France

The Stade de France track is going to take a beating today.

As the 'Hardest Geezer' (Russ Cook) says, there will be a lot of ones and twos slamming into it.

Doing the slamming will be several British athletes...

Katarina Johnson-Thompson continues her bid for gold in the heptathlon this morning with the long jump and javelin events before the 800m finale tonight.

Not to forget that Ben Pattison, Elliot Giles, and Max Burgin, are all in action for the men's 800m semi-finals, while Cindy Sember takes to the track for the 100m hurdle semis.

To finish off the morning, Britain are involved in the 4x400m relay.

Phoar. I got tired just typing that.

PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 08: Katarina Johnson-Thompson of Team Great Britain celebrates after competing in the Women's Heptathlon Shot Put on day thirteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on August 08, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Yesterday's headlines

To say yesterday was eventful is an understatement.

There was drama, shock losses, and a mix of success for Great Britain on a topsy-turvey day.

If you somehow missed day 13 (not sure how you would), here are the headlines for you to catch up on:

  • Noah Lyles of the USA suffered a shock defeat in the men's 200m but admitted he is suffering from Covid after claiming bronze.
  • Ellie Aldridge struck gold in the women's kite, GB's 13th of the Paris Games.
  • Great Britain's Katarina Johnson-Thompson leads the women's heptathlon standings after four events in a bid to win her first Olympic medal.
  • Emma Finucane wins bronze for Britain in the women's keirin.
Paris 2024 Olympics - Athletics - Men's 200m Final - Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France - August 08, 2024. Noah Lyles of United States reacts after winning bronze before receiving medical attention. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier     TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Rise and shine!

What a beautiful morning it is in Paris.

The sun is shining on the host city as the Olympics enters it's final weekend of action.

I can't believe how fast it has gone, can you?

We are now on day 14 of these Games and have just three to go. I'm not ready to say goodbye yet - luckily we don't have to yet.

Another action-packed day in the city of love is in store, and we have you covered for all of it.

Strap yourselves in, it could be a bumpy ride.

Athletes jump into the Seine river to take the start of the men's 10km marathon swimming final at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Pont Alexandre III in Paris on August 9, 2024. (Photo by Dimitar DILKOFF / AFP) (Photo by DIMITAR DILKOFF/AFP via Getty Images)
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Key Updates
  • Thiam leads by 121 points to KJT
  • Monster throw from Thiam
  • Max Burgin through to 800m final
  • Team GB in the men's final
  • KJT still leads after five
  • Pardoe finishes sixth in 10km swim
  • Rise and shine!

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