Rio de Janeiro: Two days of gruelling competition came down to two crucial seconds in the final 800m race, as Belgian pretender Nafissatou Thiam usurped Jessica Ennis-Hill as Olympic heptathlon champion. At the end of a gripping competition, Thiam went into the two-lap race with a 142-point lead over the defending champ.
Given the duo’s personal bests over 800m, that equated to Thiam getting around within 9.47sec of Ennis-Hill to claim victory. Although the Briton produced a sterling gun-to-tape showing, Thiam came in 7.47sec behind to ensure gold by the narrowest of margins.
“I went into the 800m knowing I had about nine or 10 seconds on Jessica,” said the 21-year-old Thiam, whose gold was only Belgium’s fourth athletics medal and first since 2008. “I just tried to do my best and have no regrets so I could leave thinking I gave it all.”
Thiam said she had not expected a gold in Rio. “It’s more than a dream to be Olympic champion. I injured my elbow six weeks ago throwing the javelin in the Belgian championships. At first the doctor was not very optimistic about it. I did a lot of work with the physio. They said I had to go through the pain but if I was throwing correctly it would be okay.”
Thiam added: “I wasn’t expecting to win — maybe top eight, but not the gold.” Ennis-Hill finished just 35 points adrift of Thiam’s winning total of 6,810 points, with Canada’s Brianne Thiesen-Eaton claiming bronze (6,653).
“I’m pretty emotional but these are happy tears,” Ennis-Hill said. “I’m really pleased to be back on the podium again. These two days have been really tough but I’m really proud.”
Ennis-Hill, the poster girl of British athletics at the London Games four years ago, added: “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. I knew I had to beat her (Thiam) by 10 seconds in the 800m. When I came off after the javelin I spoke to Toni (Minichiello, her coach) and said ‘What have I got to do?’ “When he said 10 seconds I thought ‘That is so much’ but I just ran hard like I always do in the 800m and just tried to see what I could do.”