0:02:37 > 0:02:39Life is a journey.
0:02:39 > 0:02:42Heptathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson is about to embark
0:02:42 > 0:02:45on one of the most important legs of her journey.
0:02:47 > 0:02:50The 23-year-old from Liverpool is close to her chance
0:02:50 > 0:02:55to compete on the biggest stage, for the biggest prize in sport.
0:02:55 > 0:02:58An Olympic gold medal.
0:02:59 > 0:03:04My name is Darren Campbell and in 2004, I won an Olympic gold
0:03:04 > 0:03:08medal for Great Britain in the 4 x 100 metres relay in Athens.
0:03:08 > 0:03:10Four years earlier, in Sydney,
0:03:10 > 0:03:13I won an individual silver in the 200 metres.
0:03:14 > 0:03:16I loved my career.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19Athletics gave me so much and taught me so much.
0:03:19 > 0:03:24I know that to win any medal, you need to work hard, very hard.
0:03:31 > 0:03:33After bursting on the scene as a teenager
0:03:33 > 0:03:37at the London Olympics, Katarina has gone on to win major championship
0:03:37 > 0:03:40medals and has become one of the biggest stars in the sport.
0:03:42 > 0:03:44Last year, with a heptathlon gold in her sights,
0:03:44 > 0:03:48she endured heartbreak, but now, on the eve of the Rio Olympics,
0:03:48 > 0:03:52she has Jessica Ennis-Hill and a top podium position in her sights.
0:03:55 > 0:03:59Over the past few months, I've been given special access to Kat
0:03:59 > 0:04:02in her qualification in the run-up to Rio
0:04:02 > 0:04:06in her quest to become Olympic champion.
0:04:19 > 0:04:22I used to live in Netherley in Liverpool, and it was me,
0:04:22 > 0:04:25my mum, my nan, my grandad and my nan's sister,
0:04:25 > 0:04:28all in one house growing up, so I had a big family.
0:04:28 > 0:04:30Even though I was the only child.
0:04:30 > 0:04:32She was an absolute joy. She was a tomboy.
0:04:32 > 0:04:34- A tomboy?- She was a tomboy.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37When I thought I had a girl,
0:04:37 > 0:04:38I thought... I bought all little dresses,
0:04:38 > 0:04:40but she wasn't having any of it.
0:04:40 > 0:04:44- As soon as she could walk, she wanted leggings on, you know?- Yeah.
0:04:44 > 0:04:46Always. I always had a house full of boys,
0:04:46 > 0:04:48because she used to play football every day.
0:04:48 > 0:04:51- She would never, she wouldn't let me buy any pink.- No pink?- No pink.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55I was always, like, active and moving around, and stuff,
0:04:55 > 0:04:59but my mum put me in ballet dancing lessons from quite a young age.
0:04:59 > 0:05:01- Cos that's what she did as a profession.- OK.
0:05:01 > 0:05:03She was a dancer, and she danced around the world and staff,
0:05:03 > 0:05:06and that's the sort of life she, like,
0:05:06 > 0:05:08not pushed on me, but she wanted for me.
0:05:08 > 0:05:09so literally, from a very
0:05:09 > 0:05:13young age, I was in, like, ballet shoes, dancing, doing tap dance.
0:05:13 > 0:05:16But then, when she said, that's it, I'm not doing it, I was heartbroken.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19- I was going to say... - Because she had a chance to go to the Royal Ballet and she's like,
0:05:19 > 0:05:21I'm not doing it. And the teacher was saying,
0:05:21 > 0:05:24how about if I gave you private lessons, the teacher was saying.
0:05:24 > 0:05:26But she was like, no, I've had enough.
0:05:26 > 0:05:31So, I said OK, if you're going to stop, you need a hobby of some sort.
0:05:31 > 0:05:34And do you think your mum secretly wanted you to be a dancer?
0:05:34 > 0:05:37Yes, she did. Like, literally, the day I stopped dancing,
0:05:37 > 0:05:39her and the dance teacher were both crying their eyes out.
0:05:39 > 0:05:43- Aw!- I know. And we went to a number of different things, football,
0:05:43 > 0:05:48keyboard lessons, and luckily, at drama school we did this athletics competition
0:05:48 > 0:05:53at the end of each year to the track I still train on to this day.
0:05:53 > 0:05:55That was the one thing I was excited about at the end of each
0:05:55 > 0:05:58school year - "The summer's coming, I get to do athletics."
0:06:01 > 0:06:04So, Kat, this is where you grew up, this is your old school.
0:06:04 > 0:06:08Yeah. The only that changed is these extra railings.
0:06:08 > 0:06:10Tell me about these railings.
0:06:10 > 0:06:12Were you one of those naughty kids that tried to escape?
0:06:12 > 0:06:15I was a really skinny kid, as well.
0:06:15 > 0:06:18So God, no, I couldn't even fit my leg through there.
0:06:18 > 0:06:21I'm trying to spot teachers that I used to ...
0:06:21 > 0:06:25- I think that is Mr Coakley.- You know that teacher?- Yeah, I know him.
0:06:25 > 0:06:28That's the one who used to be in charge of the sports.
0:06:28 > 0:06:32- Hello, sir! - Reminiscing on old times?
0:06:32 > 0:06:34Reminiscing on old times, sir.
0:06:34 > 0:06:38Yeah, I'm just talking about where I first started doing athletics and stuff.
0:06:38 > 0:06:42And when I got that high jump record when I was younger.
0:06:42 > 0:06:44You were well coached, weren't you?
0:06:44 > 0:06:45You're taking the praise, sir.
0:06:47 > 0:06:49But it does all start at school, doesn't it?
0:06:49 > 0:06:52You know, without a good teacher like yourself who sees
0:06:52 > 0:06:56a bit of talent in a young person, well, it's normally how it goes.
0:06:56 > 0:06:57I took her to Harriers.
0:06:57 > 0:07:01That was after, after you discovered that I did,
0:07:01 > 0:07:03- that I was good at high jump. - Remember I used to have...
0:07:03 > 0:07:05I was going say, we didn't have a high jump thing,
0:07:05 > 0:07:07he had a little bamboo stick!
0:07:07 > 0:07:09INDISTINCT
0:07:09 > 0:07:13I put Sellotape around to hold it.
0:07:13 > 0:07:14And then measured the height?
0:07:14 > 0:07:18- No, we didn't measure the height, we just kept going higher and higher. - Just, raise your arm.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21- That's what it used to be like. - Yeah.
0:07:21 > 0:07:22But, yeah, I remember, he was the sports...
0:07:22 > 0:07:25He was the coordinator of all that and I couldn't wait to
0:07:25 > 0:07:27go into year six, because I knew that he was the teacher.
0:07:27 > 0:07:29And he'd let me off a little more,
0:07:29 > 0:07:31because he knew I was sporty as well.
0:07:31 > 0:07:33Ah, well, thank you, sir. Thank you for your time.
0:07:33 > 0:07:35Good luck. Pop in any time. Catch you...
0:07:35 > 0:07:39June 14 at Wavertree, June 16.
0:07:39 > 0:07:40OK.
0:07:40 > 0:07:42We've got sports day, Olympic sports day on June 6th.
0:07:42 > 0:07:46- June 6th.- Do you want to come and present the prizes?- Yeah, OK. Cool.
0:07:46 > 0:07:48- Thanks for that. - Thank you, sir.- See you.
0:07:49 > 0:07:50It's weird.
0:07:50 > 0:07:52Calling him "sir", as well.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55Like, I saw him in Tesco and I was like, "hi, sir."
0:07:55 > 0:07:57Did he say, you don't need to call me Sir?
0:07:57 > 0:08:01The same height as well, not calling him sir, it's weird.
0:08:01 > 0:08:04So, looking forward to 2016, what is it you need to do to qualify?
0:08:04 > 0:08:07Get 6,200 points.
0:08:07 > 0:08:08So, are you feeling the pressure?
0:08:08 > 0:08:12Literally, I'm not feeling the pressure, but I'm not going to lie,
0:08:12 > 0:08:18I'm feeling like I'm mentally terrified of getting injured.
0:08:18 > 0:08:21And that's the biggest pressure on me this year.
0:08:21 > 0:08:23I know that pressure all too well.
0:08:23 > 0:08:26And with qualification for the Rio Olympics a must,
0:08:26 > 0:08:30I knew that Kat would be feeling the nerves.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33As they prepare for two days of intense competition at the
0:08:33 > 0:08:36world-renowned Gotzis Hypomeeting.
0:08:36 > 0:08:40Two years ago, when Kat last came here, she lifted the crown.
0:08:40 > 0:08:42But this time, it wasn't about the glory,
0:08:42 > 0:08:46it was just about guaranteeing that all-important place on the plane.
0:08:46 > 0:08:48- Good morning, Tracy. - Good morning.
0:08:48 > 0:08:51We're moments away from the heat.
0:08:51 > 0:08:53Katarina is on the line,
0:08:53 > 0:08:56how well did you sleep and how well did she sleep last night?
0:08:56 > 0:08:58She slept well. Everything's OK.
0:08:58 > 0:08:59We had a good sleep.
0:08:59 > 0:09:01- Yeah? You share a room?- Yes.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04- OK, did you sleep well? - Not really, to be honest!
0:09:06 > 0:09:08- Just want to get it over with, now. - Just want to get it over with.
0:09:15 > 0:09:16On your marks.
0:09:16 > 0:09:20- COMMENTATOR: - Johnson-Thompson in lane five.
0:09:20 > 0:09:22GUN
0:09:22 > 0:09:23They're cleanly away.
0:09:30 > 0:09:34Johnson-Thompson finishing strongly though, takes it on the line.
0:09:34 > 0:09:36CHEERING
0:09:36 > 0:09:39- Mum? Mum? Do you feel better?- Yeah.
0:09:39 > 0:09:41- You feel better?- Yes, I do.
0:09:41 > 0:09:45- That was so smooth!- Yeah. - So smooth.
0:09:45 > 0:09:47The first part's over with now, so...
0:09:47 > 0:09:50I can breathe again, now.
0:09:50 > 0:09:51- She looked calm.- Yes.
0:09:51 > 0:09:53She always does, it's me who gets nervy...
0:09:53 > 0:09:55She's very calm.
0:09:55 > 0:09:57You take away all her nerves?
0:09:57 > 0:10:00And what do you have in your hand?
0:10:00 > 0:10:01Oh, er...
0:10:03 > 0:10:05So, the first event is out of the way
0:10:05 > 0:10:08and a healthy contribution of points on the board
0:10:08 > 0:10:12towards that all-important 6,200.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15You could sense a calmer feeling in the camp.
0:10:15 > 0:10:19But as Kat's long-term coach, Mike Holmes, knows all too well,
0:10:19 > 0:10:21you can't take anything for granted.
0:10:21 > 0:10:27She hasn't jumped in competition for what, eight or nine months.
0:10:27 > 0:10:29Since she last jumped,
0:10:29 > 0:10:31she's had a knee operation so she
0:10:31 > 0:10:33has to believe that she is still
0:10:33 > 0:10:34the athlete she was.
0:10:37 > 0:10:39But Kat did what she does best and put in
0:10:39 > 0:10:43a solid performance in the high jump, clearing 1.92 and putting
0:10:43 > 0:10:47her at the top of the leaderboard going into the third event.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51She's crossed off a couple of things, like,
0:10:51 > 0:10:53it's her outdoor personal best.
0:10:53 > 0:10:55- Ah!- She's never gone higher than 1.9 outdoors.
0:10:55 > 0:10:57- OK.- Which is good.
0:10:57 > 0:11:00- OK. So, two events gone... - Yeah.
0:11:00 > 0:11:01- ..on to shot putt.- Yeah.
0:11:01 > 0:11:03But so far, so good.
0:11:03 > 0:11:04So far, so good.
0:11:04 > 0:11:06Yeah.
0:11:06 > 0:11:07Famous last words.
0:11:07 > 0:11:11As good form was not set to continue in the shot.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14Kat's three attempts failed to impress her or Mike.
0:11:16 > 0:11:20Her furthest throw being just over 11.5 metres.
0:11:20 > 0:11:24The lowest distance of all the athletes competing.
0:11:29 > 0:11:32With one event remaining of the first day, the team were
0:11:32 > 0:11:35hoping that there weren't going to be any more stumbles.
0:11:56 > 0:12:00- COMMENTATOR: - Katarina Johnson-Thompson now begins to just pull away.
0:12:08 > 0:12:11Coming away and opening up the gap and to a quick time, surely?
0:12:11 > 0:12:14Yes, a personal best for Katarina Johnson-Thompson.
0:12:18 > 0:12:19What a fantastic finish.
0:12:19 > 0:12:21A hell of a finish.
0:12:21 > 0:12:24I mean, the secret of being a good heptathlete is to come out of
0:12:24 > 0:12:28some sort of disaster or minor disaster like the shot,
0:12:28 > 0:12:32turn it around and run a world-class 200 time, really.
0:12:32 > 0:12:34You're never going to have,
0:12:34 > 0:12:37or almost never going to have, the perfect seven.
0:12:41 > 0:12:42Aargh!
0:12:42 > 0:12:43DARREN CHUCKLES
0:12:47 > 0:12:49I'm on my tiptoes, now.
0:12:50 > 0:12:55Now, rest, recovery, focus on day two.
0:12:55 > 0:12:57Just get my head down, try to get some sleep.
0:12:57 > 0:12:59I'm tackling the long jump tomorrow which is
0:12:59 > 0:13:02a big talking point on everyone's clips, for me in the long jump
0:13:02 > 0:13:06and hopefully I can overcome what happened to me last year.
0:13:06 > 0:13:09And yeah, just get that qualifier and get my flight
0:13:09 > 0:13:10on the plane...
0:13:10 > 0:13:13to Rio. So fingers crossed
0:13:13 > 0:13:14nothing happens.
0:13:14 > 0:13:19At last year's World Athletics Championships in Beijing,
0:13:19 > 0:13:22Katarina was a strong favourite for gold.
0:13:22 > 0:13:25She couldn't have asked for a much better start to the competition.
0:13:25 > 0:13:30Ending day one in second place, just behind Jessica Ennis-Hill.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35And as she went in to day two, which kicked off with the long jump,
0:13:35 > 0:13:37one of Kat's strongest events,
0:13:37 > 0:13:41hopes were high that she could really push for that world title.
0:13:41 > 0:13:43But after fouling her first two jumps,
0:13:43 > 0:13:47it seemed that things were not going to be so straightforward.
0:13:48 > 0:13:52- COMMENTATOR:- Last chance, then, for Katarina Johnson-Thompson
0:13:52 > 0:13:55to change her fate in this World Championships.
0:13:55 > 0:13:58What does she do? What would you do?
0:13:58 > 0:14:02Do you go for it, or do you play it safe?
0:14:02 > 0:14:05I'm feeling good, I'm feeling optimistic for the long jump,
0:14:05 > 0:14:08I think this is where I sort of turn my heptathlon around.
0:14:08 > 0:14:10It normally is, anyway.
0:14:10 > 0:14:12So I was looking forward to it.
0:14:12 > 0:14:14Focus in the eyes.
0:14:17 > 0:14:19Johnson-Thompson, last round.
0:14:19 > 0:14:20Can she do it?
0:14:22 > 0:14:25It looks better on the board ...
0:14:25 > 0:14:28It's enormous! It's a huge jump!
0:14:28 > 0:14:30That is incredible.
0:14:31 > 0:14:33They're waiting...
0:14:33 > 0:14:34Wait a second.
0:14:34 > 0:14:35There's drama here
0:14:35 > 0:14:40because I think there's a suggestion of a nick of the Plasticine.
0:14:40 > 0:14:42Let's have a look.
0:14:42 > 0:14:45I can picture it in my head, and I can see the board,
0:14:45 > 0:14:48and I can see the officials and I heard the crowd and if it's
0:14:48 > 0:14:49a no jump, the guy's already got the flag up,
0:14:49 > 0:14:52before you even turn around, the guy's got the red flag up.
0:14:52 > 0:14:54And there's no red flag.
0:14:54 > 0:14:56So I was like, yeah, I've done it.
0:14:56 > 0:14:58It felt like an amazing jump.
0:14:58 > 0:15:01My coach would always say in the past, as well,
0:15:01 > 0:15:04if they have to get a magnifying glass out it's like, normally,
0:15:04 > 0:15:06it's fine, like you can't see anything,
0:15:06 > 0:15:09you're actually looking for something.
0:15:09 > 0:15:10It's confirmed.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13Katarina Johnson-Thompson has had three fouls.
0:15:13 > 0:15:16It's the end of her World Championships.
0:15:17 > 0:15:22The three hours after that which I was just, like, awful, like, so bad.
0:15:24 > 0:15:27She came to my... I just said, let's just go to my hotel, get away from here.
0:15:27 > 0:15:30So she came and stayed with me for like, two days.
0:15:30 > 0:15:34- We just sat there...- Did you talk? - Yeah, we talked, we cried.
0:15:34 > 0:15:35We cried.
0:15:35 > 0:15:37I cried there, obviously we cried together.
0:15:37 > 0:15:39That's why I want to be here for her.
0:15:39 > 0:15:41And support her in any way I can.
0:15:41 > 0:15:42And these things happen.
0:15:42 > 0:15:44It happens in sport.
0:15:44 > 0:15:46If those things don't happen, then you don't learn.
0:15:46 > 0:15:48You know, she's learned so much and you can see it all in her
0:15:48 > 0:15:50attitude this year and everything.
0:15:50 > 0:15:53When I got back, it was so strange.
0:15:53 > 0:15:56It was, like, I was sitting in my room and it was like,
0:15:56 > 0:16:00that's all happened and I'm just back here and that's just like...
0:16:00 > 0:16:02like I was embarrassed.
0:16:05 > 0:16:08I understand that feeling Kat would have had after Beijing.
0:16:10 > 0:16:14It feels like you'll never recover and move on from that moment.
0:16:14 > 0:16:18And in her case, that moment was the third red flag in the long jump.
0:16:20 > 0:16:23But she's a top athlete and she knew
0:16:23 > 0:16:27that she had to use that experience to push herself even harder.
0:16:27 > 0:16:30To make sure that she got what she really wanted.
0:16:37 > 0:16:40It was like the end of the season, I had such a bad time.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43I didn't do well in Beijing, obviously, got the three
0:16:43 > 0:16:46no jumps in the long jump and then tried to go somewhere else
0:16:46 > 0:16:48to get the 62 to qualify,
0:16:48 > 0:16:50and ended up pulling my adductor in the javelin.
0:16:50 > 0:16:55And then I came back from holiday and pretty much 6am the next day
0:16:55 > 0:16:59I was on the operation table because I just wanted to fix my knee.
0:16:59 > 0:17:03I just didn't want to bring negative attention to myself, as well.
0:17:03 > 0:17:06So I kept quiet and I was on crutches for two weeks
0:17:06 > 0:17:10but now things are flying.
0:17:10 > 0:17:14I'm jumping, pain-free, for the first time since about 2010.
0:17:14 > 0:17:20Which is just, a whole different me, as a person.
0:17:20 > 0:17:21It's crazy.
0:17:56 > 0:17:59So, all that hard work, and it came down to this.
0:18:01 > 0:18:04The first time that she would have competitively jumped
0:18:04 > 0:18:07since the crushing events at the World Championships,
0:18:07 > 0:18:10and since that potentially career-changing operation.
0:18:14 > 0:18:18As Kat's first jump came nearer, you could really feel the tension.
0:18:34 > 0:18:36And the smile said it all.
0:18:38 > 0:18:396.30, so that's safe.
0:18:41 > 0:18:44It was behind the board. It looked behind the board, didn't it?
0:18:44 > 0:18:46Yeah, behind the board.
0:18:46 > 0:18:49Hey, listen, we'll take safe. I think we'll all take safe.
0:18:49 > 0:18:51- Safe, safe!- Safe, safe, safe.
0:18:53 > 0:18:56Somebody else who's been very important, and probably took
0:18:56 > 0:19:00a lot of the stress away from your mother is Barrie Wells.
0:19:00 > 0:19:03Yeah, Barrie is very... I'd like to call him a close family friend now.
0:19:03 > 0:19:06I think we've developed a real friendship over the years,
0:19:06 > 0:19:10and it is a really weird one because it's like old and young,
0:19:10 > 0:19:13and he always says, "What sort of role is it?"
0:19:13 > 0:19:18It's sort of like a stepdad. He is so passionate about sport,
0:19:18 > 0:19:21and particularly athletics and LFC, so we get along through that path.
0:19:26 > 0:19:30When did you meet Kat and when did you spot that talent?
0:19:30 > 0:19:33When she was 14, originally.
0:19:33 > 0:19:34I spotted her at 14 and I just thought,
0:19:34 > 0:19:38"This phenomenal youth high jumper and long jumper,"
0:19:38 > 0:19:42phenomenal at that. Also a good hurdler, and she could sprint.
0:19:42 > 0:19:45And I thought, "This girl can do everything. I've not seen her throw
0:19:45 > 0:19:49"the javelin and shot, but her talent is just phenomenal."
0:19:49 > 0:19:52So at that stage, I think in 2008, I then decided,
0:19:52 > 0:19:54"I'm going to sponsor about 20 athletes,
0:19:54 > 0:19:57"going right through to 2012,"
0:19:57 > 0:20:00and I decided to pick out the 15-year-old Katarina.
0:20:00 > 0:20:04To my absolute astonishment, UK Athletics said to me,
0:20:04 > 0:20:07"We've never heard of her, we've never heard of her.
0:20:07 > 0:20:10"Do you really want to sponsor her?"
0:20:10 > 0:20:13'He's always had the belief in me and he knew it was all about Rio,
0:20:13 > 0:20:18'it was long-term for him. But he funded the likes of me,
0:20:18 > 0:20:21Jodie Williams, Jessica Ennis, so he's helped a lot of athletes
0:20:21 > 0:20:22in a lot of different ways.
0:20:22 > 0:20:25But the friendship sort of stuck after, with our love of LFC
0:20:25 > 0:20:28and stuff. But, yeah, he helped me get my driving lessons
0:20:28 > 0:20:30and put money towards my first car and stuff,
0:20:30 > 0:20:34which took a lot of the pressure off, especially my mum, and me.
0:20:34 > 0:20:37It's just not what you want after training, to have to get the bus.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40- Get the bus!- And I had to walk through the park and get the bus.
0:20:40 > 0:20:42It's like another training session, isn't it?
0:20:42 > 0:20:45Yeah, it's just like, "Aw, really?" So, he's been a huge help.
0:20:50 > 0:20:54It's great that with her success she's giving back.
0:20:54 > 0:20:58She is. She's the patron of it, she comes along and hosts events.
0:20:58 > 0:21:02The kids love it, especially the young athletes.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05They love it when she's here.
0:21:05 > 0:21:08What do you think the score's going to be today?
0:21:08 > 0:21:10Chelsea aren't very good any more, at the moment,
0:21:10 > 0:21:13- so I'm going to go 3 - 1 Liverpool. - 3 - 1?
0:21:14 > 0:21:18This is a good place to come and almost take you away from athletics.
0:21:18 > 0:21:21You don't have to think about training and you can just relax.
0:21:21 > 0:21:25Yeah, definitely. And it's another bonus, that I get
0:21:25 > 0:21:28to come and see my favourite football team in Liverpool,
0:21:28 > 0:21:31but it definitely is such a good atmosphere when you get here.
0:21:31 > 0:21:34It's a feel-good vibe, you get to meet wonderful kids,
0:21:34 > 0:21:36like Ellie here.
0:21:36 > 0:21:40- I like that!- Hiya.
0:21:40 > 0:21:42Yeah, it's good to bond with the kids.
0:21:42 > 0:21:45And you can see in the time we've been here, it really does raise
0:21:45 > 0:21:47- their spirits, doesn't it? - Yeah, definitely.
0:21:51 > 0:21:55# Walk on
0:21:55 > 0:21:58# Walk on
0:21:58 > 0:22:04# With hope in your heart
0:22:04 > 0:22:09# And you'll never walk
0:22:09 > 0:22:15# Alone
0:22:16 > 0:22:24# You'll never walk alone... #
0:22:29 > 0:22:32Back in Gotzis, and as the heavens opened,
0:22:32 > 0:22:37the lyrics of that famous Anfield anthem felt incredibly pertinent,
0:22:37 > 0:22:41as it was becoming clear that all was not well with Kat.
0:22:41 > 0:22:44She seemed to be struggling with her left quad,
0:22:44 > 0:22:48the same leg that caused her problems so frequently in the past.
0:22:49 > 0:22:53But she continued and was able to put in three throws
0:22:53 > 0:22:56with the javelin, and at least get on the scoreboard.
0:23:06 > 0:23:09Once, it might have been about coming out on top.
0:23:09 > 0:23:13Now it was just a case of survival.
0:23:13 > 0:23:16We kept seeing her trying to manipulate her quad a little bit,
0:23:16 > 0:23:19try to get the blood flow through there.
0:23:19 > 0:23:23Has that affected her? Is that what the issue is?
0:23:23 > 0:23:26I think it feels tight and she's not taking no chances,
0:23:26 > 0:23:30and she just wants to, you know... Nothing fancy,
0:23:30 > 0:23:33she wants to put all her jumps in and everything, so she's just got
0:23:33 > 0:23:36to be very careful cos she doesn't want to get any more injuries.
0:23:36 > 0:23:38All right, well, look, we'll let you go take your seat
0:23:38 > 0:23:40and we'll see you afterwards.
0:23:44 > 0:23:48So it all comes down to this, the 800 metres.
0:23:48 > 0:23:55Kat needs at least 763 points to get to that all-important 6,200,
0:23:55 > 0:23:58meaning she has to run these two laps
0:23:58 > 0:24:00in around 2 minutes, 24 seconds.
0:24:01 > 0:24:05With an injury, that was easier said than done.
0:24:05 > 0:24:08To say I felt the tension, that's an understatement.
0:24:12 > 0:24:13On your marks...
0:24:16 > 0:24:17STARTING GUN FIRES
0:24:25 > 0:24:26Come on, Kat!
0:24:29 > 0:24:31- COMMENTATOR:- As you can see, Katarina Johnson-Thompson
0:24:31 > 0:24:34going through, sitting near the back, and she'll just make sure
0:24:34 > 0:24:37that she runs quickly enough to get the points.
0:24:42 > 0:24:45Katarina Johnson-Thompson just comes home for fourth.
0:24:45 > 0:24:50And she did it, with relative ease, in just over 2 minutes, 16 seconds.
0:24:52 > 0:24:55A relief for all concerned.
0:24:55 > 0:24:57Whoo.
0:25:00 > 0:25:02Mike, relief?
0:25:02 > 0:25:05Yeah, well, it's not what we came for, to be honest.
0:25:05 > 0:25:07We came here to challenge for the leaders,
0:25:07 > 0:25:12but as the competition evolved and Kat picked up a little bit of
0:25:12 > 0:25:15a problem in the 200, at the end of the first day, you know,
0:25:15 > 0:25:20the thing was in jeopardy for a while, so to come through the 800
0:25:20 > 0:25:24with the score we need to qualify for the Olympics, that's...
0:25:24 > 0:25:27I suppose you could say it's satisfying. Relief, yeah.
0:25:28 > 0:25:30It's been tough, let's be fair.
0:25:30 > 0:25:34- The last nine, ten months have been really, really tough.- Yeah.
0:25:34 > 0:25:36There's been a lot of highs and lows,
0:25:36 > 0:25:40and even the two days here, there's been a lot of highs and lows.
0:25:40 > 0:25:43The worst-case scenario could have been having to do another
0:25:43 > 0:25:44heptathlon before Rio.
0:25:44 > 0:25:48That would have been disastrous, really, really...
0:25:48 > 0:25:51That would have really put the whole Olympic year in jeopardy.
0:25:52 > 0:25:54CHEERING
0:25:57 > 0:26:00Going into it, I just wanted to get 6.2,
0:26:00 > 0:26:02but when you go through it and get a couple of PBs,
0:26:02 > 0:26:05you start to get yourself a little bit gassed and it's like,
0:26:05 > 0:26:07"Yeah, I'm basically on for a PB score!"
0:26:07 > 0:26:11But I just brought it back today and job done.
0:26:11 > 0:26:14I need to eat my own words and I came here for a 6.2, and I got 6.3,
0:26:14 > 0:26:18so I've got my plane to Rio, and that's all I can do.
0:26:18 > 0:26:21Your mum has been through the same rollercoaster
0:26:21 > 0:26:24that you've been through, and it was interesting,
0:26:24 > 0:26:26before the 800 metres she spent a lot of time with you,
0:26:26 > 0:26:28as your rock, and, yeah,
0:26:28 > 0:26:31it really did seem just to get you in the right frame of mind to
0:26:31 > 0:26:34just do what you needed to do, which was 6,200 points.
0:26:34 > 0:26:38Yeah, I think she's a familiar face and she's just got this
0:26:38 > 0:26:42calming atmosphere around her. I just definitely needed my mum.
0:26:44 > 0:26:47- Brilliant.- Yeah, thank you. - Good job.
0:26:52 > 0:26:55I think, as Kat said, the events of Gotzis were a real reminder
0:26:55 > 0:26:58for everyone how unpredictable and potentially turbulent sport
0:26:58 > 0:27:04can be, particularly athletics, and even more so multi-eventing.
0:27:06 > 0:27:08After she'd had a bit of time to recover,
0:27:08 > 0:27:14I went back to visit Kat at home to see what she'd made of it all.
0:27:14 > 0:27:16Hey!
0:27:16 > 0:27:18DOG BARKING
0:27:18 > 0:27:21- Hi, good to see you again. - Good to see you too. Come in.
0:27:25 > 0:27:28- Good to see you.- Do you want a drink?- Yes, please, just water.
0:27:28 > 0:27:31- Are you sure?- I'm trying to pretend to be healthy,
0:27:31 > 0:27:34- so, yeah, water would be great. - OK, is tap water OK?
0:27:34 > 0:27:36Yeah, that's fine, that's fine.
0:27:36 > 0:27:40So how have you been feeling since Gotzis?
0:27:40 > 0:27:42Yeah, things have gone well. Obviously heptathlon takes a lot
0:27:42 > 0:27:47out of you, so at the minute I'm just trying to rest and recover
0:27:47 > 0:27:49and just get my head around the fact
0:27:49 > 0:27:52that the next big thing is the Olympics.
0:27:56 > 0:27:59So this is Chorizo, he's the one who always likes to play,
0:27:59 > 0:28:02and this is Bronx, he's the one who always likes to eat.
0:28:02 > 0:28:05- So this one's Bronx?- Yeah, Bronx is the brown one, Chorizo...
0:28:05 > 0:28:06Oh! SHE LAUGHS
0:28:06 > 0:28:09Come on now, play nice. There's yours.
0:28:09 > 0:28:10Do they help keep you relaxed?
0:28:10 > 0:28:14I don't know. I think anyone who's a dog lover or a dog owner
0:28:14 > 0:28:17can relate. They're always just constant.
0:28:17 > 0:28:21They're always here and they're always so loving.
0:28:21 > 0:28:24Yeah, they're my two little best friends, I think.
0:28:24 > 0:28:30So, in Gotzis we saw that you were able to complete the heptathlon,
0:28:30 > 0:28:33but you did pick up a slight injury. How are things now?
0:28:33 > 0:28:36You've been back over a week, so how are things feeling?
0:28:36 > 0:28:39Yeah, it's been exactly eight days since I finished,
0:28:39 > 0:28:44and things are going well. Things are actually quite good.
0:28:44 > 0:28:48I think it showed in my maturity in Gotzis, that I was able to feel
0:28:48 > 0:28:51and understand and know my body, and know when to push it,
0:28:51 > 0:28:55otherwise it just would have been back in the same similar situation
0:28:55 > 0:28:58as last year. And, yeah, I can't feel my quad any more,
0:28:58 > 0:29:02and the important thing was I got 6.2.
0:29:02 > 0:29:05But now there's a smile on your face, you seem alive,
0:29:05 > 0:29:11is there now a bigger inner strength of what the potential is
0:29:11 > 0:29:15come Rio, because you had some great performances as well out in Gotzis?
0:29:15 > 0:29:18Yeah, I can't believe it. At the end of the 800 I was just happy...
0:29:18 > 0:29:21I knew that I needed a certain time to get the 6.2,
0:29:21 > 0:29:23and then I was like, "Wow, I came sixth."
0:29:23 > 0:29:24I was like, "Are you joking?"
0:29:24 > 0:29:27I thought I would have fell way back after day two.
0:29:27 > 0:29:34It gives me confidence that I can be not at 100% and still placing,
0:29:34 > 0:29:38still getting onto the podium, onto that podium in Gotzis.
0:29:38 > 0:29:41So, yeah, for me, I know I need to work on my throws,
0:29:41 > 0:29:44but a lot of the work is done.
0:29:49 > 0:29:52I know your mum likes to keep every single photograph.
0:29:52 > 0:29:56She told me that she had a photo of you and I, and I asked her
0:29:56 > 0:29:57to dig it out, and she did.
0:29:57 > 0:30:02- How old were you? Cos I was 21 then.- 21!- How old were you?
0:30:02 > 0:30:08It was 2007, that programme says, so...
0:30:08 > 0:30:1214. 14 years old. With really bad hair.
0:30:12 > 0:30:14How long had you been doing athletics then?
0:30:14 > 0:30:17- I'd been doing athletics since 2005.- Wow.
0:30:17 > 0:30:20- Yeah.- So that was the beginning of your journey?- Yeah, pretty much.
0:30:20 > 0:30:25And, yeah, I remember I queued up, a big queue, after your autograph.
0:30:25 > 0:30:28Not any more. There's no queue.
0:30:28 > 0:30:31And signed it and got the photo. And, yeah, my mum...
0:30:31 > 0:30:34- It's just crazy, isn't it? - It's crazy. It's crazy.
0:30:34 > 0:30:37I feel like I've been a part of your journey, and I feel like
0:30:37 > 0:30:41I'm here now, in the middle of it.
0:30:41 > 0:30:47At 14, did you ever imagine that you'd be sat here in your own house,
0:30:47 > 0:30:51having achieved so much already as an athlete?
0:30:51 > 0:30:53No, not at all.
0:30:53 > 0:30:57And it's crazy, as a young athlete, as that kid there,
0:30:57 > 0:31:03at 14 years old, I think everyone always wants to be an Olympic champ
0:31:03 > 0:31:05but you can't, so you have to find a path to get there.
0:31:05 > 0:31:10It's just crazy, in those years, that I came through.
0:31:10 > 0:31:14Yeah, I can't believe it's 2016 now. Nine years on...
0:31:14 > 0:31:20The thing for me, especially going to Anfield and seeing you
0:31:20 > 0:31:23there with the kids, it's like,
0:31:23 > 0:31:26you've gone on and done the same thing, giving back.
0:31:26 > 0:31:28It really feels like that's important to you,
0:31:28 > 0:31:30as well as obviously your athletic success.
0:31:30 > 0:31:35Yeah, definitely. I always take the time to talk to kids
0:31:35 > 0:31:39at the track, especially at my track. And when I do competitions...
0:31:39 > 0:31:42I still did the Merseyside champs this year and there were a couple
0:31:42 > 0:31:45of kids who came up to me there, so, yeah,
0:31:45 > 0:31:47it definitely means a lot, and it meant a lot to me that day,
0:31:47 > 0:31:50so, thank you. Thanks for the pic.