Katrina Johnson-Thompson retains heptathlon gold after strong final day performance at 2022 Commonwealth Games

England’s Katrina Johnson-Thompson made the final day’s highest performance to retain her heptathlon gold at the Commonwealth Games.

After throwing a personal best 44.63m in javelin throw in the final event, Johnson-Thompson was ahead of 136 points – a score that represented an unassailable lead in the 800m finish over Northern Ireland’s Kate O’Connor.

Given Johnson-Thompson’s pedigree in that event, it meant that only injury could really have prevented the 29-year-old from retaining the title he had won on the Gold Coast four years earlier, and he was able to avoid such a fate. It was as she came safely home on the Sikander Stadium track in second place behind Holy Mills.

“It feels amazing,” Johnson-Thompson told BBC Sport Trackside.

“It seems like this competition has served my career so well.

“2018 was my first global gold and it just started my career.

“I’ve had a tough few years so I’m very happy and hope this is the start of my next new career.

“It’s been tough, I’ve had moments when I didn’t want to move on to come out of here and actually get the gold and prove to myself that moving on was worth it, I’m so happy.”

Johnson-Thompson had a slim lead over O’Connor on Tuesday night as the latter had a good first day of competition.

But Liverpudlion, the 2019 world champion, was in full form on the second day, not only getting her javelin PB, but also registering a solid 6.33m distance in the long jump.

And after a tough few years of injury-stricken, there was a smile — and tears — on Johnson-Thompson’s face when the result was finally confirmed.

Tears were also down for the death of Johnson-Thompson’s grandmother last week, who dedicated her victory.

England’s Jade O’Doda finished last on the podium with 6212 points.