Britain’s Johnson-Thompson wins Olympic place

LONDON: Britain’s Katarina Johnson-Thompson is relieved after booking her place at the Rio Games in August and says she is setting her sights on a first Olympic heptathlon gold medal.

The 23-year-old accumulated the 6,200 points needed for Olympic qualification at the Hypo-Meeting in Goetzis on Sunday to join compatriot Jessica Ennis-Hill in the Rio lineup.

The Austrian event, won by Canada’s Brianne Theisen-Eaton, was Johnson-Thompson’s first major outing since a knee operation in October.

“The feeling is one of relief more than anything else,” she told British media.

“I’ve got a lot to work on between now and then but this is my first time back after surgery and I know exactly what I need to work on. “My goal is definitely a gold medal in Rio.

I’m always a glass half-full person.” Johnson-Thompson, who finished sixth at Goetzis with 6,304 points, recorded three personal bests.