Thiam claims record-setting third Olympic heptathlon gold

PARIS: Belgium’s Nafissatou Thiam claimed a record-setting third Olympic heptathlon gold medal at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on Friday.

The 29-year-old not only cemented her place as the best but also became only the second woman behind Polish hammer great Anita Wlodarczyk to win three Olympic golds in the same athletics discipline. Thiam added the Paris 2024 title to the gold medals she won at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.

Thiam had her third gold all but sewn up ahead of the concluding 800m event on Friday evening with an almost unassailable lead of 121 points.

The Belgian sensation secured a final score of 6,880 with overnight leader Katarina Johnson-Thompson of Great Britain settling for silver with 6,844. Thiam’s compatriot Noor Vidtsbagged the bronze with a score of 6,707.

Reigning world champion Johnson-Thompson had one hand on the title after the fifth event leading Thiam by 48 points.

But Thiam moved ahead in the penultimate event thanks to a superior performance in the javelin throw with a heave of 54.04m. She produced a personal best throw of 15.54m in the shot put and season’s bests in the 200m and the javelin en route to her victory.

In the end, she won it by a whisker after Johnson-Thompson posted a personal best in the 800m with Thiam taking the win by 36 points.