Athletics at the 2024 Summer Olympics – Women's heptathlon explained

Event:Women's heptathlon
Games:2024 Summer
Venue:Stade de France, Paris, France
Competitors:23
Nations:14
Win Label:Winning points
Win Value:6880
Gold:Nafissatou Thiam
Goldnoc:BEL
Silver:Katarina Johnson-Thompson
Silvernoc:GBR
Bronze:Noor Vidts
Bronzenoc:BEL
Prev:2020
Next:2028

The women's heptathlon at the 2024 Summer Olympics was held in Paris, France, on 8 and 9 August 2024. This was the 11th time that the event was contested at the Summer Olympics. Nafissatou Thiam became the first women ever to win the gold medal in heptathlon three Olympics in a row.[1]

Summary

This was the 11th appearance of the heptathlon event, having appeared in every Olympic athletics programme since 1984. The event featured the entire podium from the previous edition, as well as the podium from the two most recent world championships. Reigning Olympic champion Nafissatou Thiam was aiming to become the first woman to successfully win three Olympic heptathlon titles. Reining world champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson was looking to win her first Olympic medal, after finishing off the podium in the past three editions. Other medal contenders were double world indoor champion Noor Vidts, who finished fourth in the previous edition, returning Olympic silver medalist Anouk Vetter and multiple world-medalists Anna Hall.

Day one

In the first event, the 100 m hurdles, Annik Kälin of Switzerland recorded the fastest time. Her time of 12.87 s was a personal best. Additionally, Kälin was the only athlete to record a time under 13 seconds. The top 3 was rounded out by American Taliyah Brooks and Noor Vidts, the latter also running a personal best. Johnson-Thompson, finishing in eight, recorded a season's best.

Drama came in the second event, the high jump, for American Chari Hawkins, who had three failed attempts at her opening height of 1.71 m. This meant that she had scored 0 points in the event and that winning a medal became virtually impossible for her. Nevertheless, she decided to continue her heptathlon after this event. For the longest time, it was a three-way battle between Thiam, Johnson-Thompson and Hall. Thiam was the first of the three to go clear at 1.92 m. Johnson-Thompson and Hall both recorded two failures on their first two attempts. On her third attempt, Johnson-Thompson cleared the bar, whereas Hall did not. This meant that Johnson-Thompson would continue with Thiam on the next height, 1.95 m. Ultimately, both women recorded three failures at this height, meaning both women were awarded the same amount of points. Lower in the standings, Kälin and Vetter both recorded season's bests.

The heptathlon continued in the shot put. Thiam extended her winning streak, recording a season's best of 15.54 m, almost half a meter clear of second place finisher Vetter. Vetter recorded a distance of 15.07, which was the only other distance to cross the 15 m mark. Vidts finished in third, with a distance of 14.57 m. Emma Oosterwegel, in fourth, and Johnson-Thompson, in fifth, both recorded personal bests.

The final event of the first day was the 200 metres.The event was won by Johnson-Thompson, who recorded a time of 23.44 s. Italian Sveva Gerevini and Dutchwoman Sofie Dokter rounded out the top 3. Thiam, who finished in 13th, recorded a seasons-best.

After the first day, Johnson-Thompson had the lead with 4055 points, 48 points ahead of second-placer Thiam. Hall rounded out the top 3, with a total of 3956 points.

Day two

The second day started with the long jump. The event was won by Martha Araújo, who took the win with a jump of 6.61 m in her final attempt. Kälin finished in second, just two centimetres behind the Colombian. Thiam, Vidts and Johnson-Thompson all followed, with just 1 centimetre separating the three of them. Vetter attained a small injury during the event, deciding to withdraw from the heptathlon after this event.

The penultimate event was the javelin throw. In the absence of Vetter, Thiam won the javelin throw, recording a season's best. Vetter's teammate Oosterwegel and Irish athlete Kate O'Connor rounded out the top 3. A bit lower down in the standings, Hall and Vidts both recorded personal bests.

The final event was the 800 metres. Prior to the event, Thiam had a 121-point lead over Johnson-Thompson. Despite this, the fight for the gold was going to be close, as Johnson-Thompson was a significantly better 800 meter-runner than Thiam. Vidts, Kälin and Hall were in 3rd, 4th and 5th place respectively.

At the gun, Hall immediately went to the front, creating a 5-meter gap with the rest of the field. Behind her, a chasing group formed of Johnson-Thompson, Vidts and Thiam respectively. At the bell, Hall recorded the fastest split time of 58.8 s. Johnson-Thompson and Vidts were behind her, recording a time of just over 1 minute. Thiam had fallen further to the back, meanwhile Hungarian Xénia Krizsán had joined Johnson-Thompson and Vidts in the chasing group. At the finish line, Hall claimed victory in the event. Johnson-Thompson finished right behind her in second, after distancing herself from the rest of the chasing group in the home stretch. After that, Vidts and Krizsán crossed the finish line. Thiam ended up finishing a few seconds later, in 9th place. Due to the fast-paced races, 9 out of the 10 first finishers recorded personal bests, with event winner Hall being the sole exception.

After the scores of the final event were calculated and added up, Thiam emerged victorious, with a total of 6880 points. Johnson-Thompson finished in second, just 32 points behind Thiam. With this victory, Thiam became the most successful athlete in Olympic heptathlon history, as she is now the only athlete with 3 gold medals in the event. Johnson-Thompson's silver medal meant she won her first Olympic medal at her fourth Olympics. Vidts claimed the bronze medal in a personal best of 6707 points, also winning her first Olympic medal. Rounding out the top 5 were Kälin and Hall.

Records

Prior to the competition, the existing world, Olympic, and area records were as follows:

RecordAthlete (nation)Score (pts)LocationDate
World record7291[2] Seoul, South Korea23-24 September 1988
Olympic record
World leading6848[3] Rome, Italy8-9 June 2024
AreaScore (pts)AthleteNation
6423
6942
7032
7291
6695
6346

Qualification

For the women's heptathlon event, the qualification period is between 1 July 2023 and 30 June 2024. [4]

Schedule

All times are Central European Summer Time (UTC+2)

The women's heptathlon took place over two consecutive days, with 4 events on the first day and 3 events on the second day.[5] [6]

DateTimeRound
8 August 2024 10:05
11:05
19:35
20:55
100 metres hurdles
High jump
Shot put
200 metres
9 August 2024 10:05
11:20
20:15
Long jump
Javelin throw
800 metres

Results

100 metres hurdles

Wind:
Heat 1: +0.1 m/s, Heat 2: 0.0 m/s, Heat 3: -0.1 m/s[7]

German athlete Sophie Weißenberg was injured during warmup and had to withdraw from competition.[8]

RankHeatNameNationalityTimePointsNotes
13Annik Kälin12.871144
23Taliyah Brooks13.001124
33Noor Vidts13.101109
43Martha Araújo13.151102
53Chari Hawkins13.161100
61Adrianna Sułek-Schubert13.321077
73Anna Hall13.361071
81Katarina Johnson-Thompson13.401065
93Sveva Gerevini13.401065
102Emma Oosterwegel13.411063
112Carolin Schäfer13.421062
122Camryn Newton-Smith13.461056
132Anouk Vetter13.491052
141Jade O'Dowda13.531046
153Auriana Lazraq-Khlass13.541044
162Nafissatou Thiam13.561041
171Sofie Dokter13.571040
181Xénia Krizsán13.611034
192Saga Vanninen13.611034
201Tori West13.621033
211Rita Nemes13.821004
221Kate O'Connor14.08967
2Sophie Weißenberg

High jump

[9]

RankGroupNameNation1.561.591.621.651.681.711.741.771.801.831.861.891.921.95ResultPointsNotesOverall pointsOverall rank
1BNafissatou Thiamooooxxx1.92113221732
2BKatarina Johnson-Thompsonoooxoxoxxoxxx1.92113221971
3BAnna Halloooxooxoxoxxx1.89109321643
4BSofie Dokterooooxxoxoxxr1.86105420945
5BNoor Vidtsooooxxooxxx1.83101621254
6BJade O'Dowdaoooooxxx1.8097820249
7BCamryn Newton-Smithooooxxooxxx1.8097820348
8BTaliyah Brooksooxoxxx1.7794120656
BAdrianna Sułek-Schubertooxoxxx1.77941201810
10AKate O'Connoroooooxxoxxr1.77941190819
11AXénia Krizsánoooxooxxoxxr1.77941197511
ARita Nemesooxooxxoxxx1.77941194516
13AAnnik Kälinoooooxxx1.7490320477
14BSaga Vanninenooxoooxxx1.74903193717
AAnouk Vetterxooooxxx1.74903195515
16BSveva Gerevinioooxxoxoxxx1.74903196813
17AEmma Oosterwegelooxxoxoxoxxx1.74903196614
18ACarolin Schäferoooxxx1.71867192918
ATori Westooxxx1.71867190020
20AMartha Araújoooooxooxxx1.71867196912
21AAuriana Lazraq-Khlassooxxx1.68830187421
BChari Hawkinsxxx0110022
BSophie Weißenberg

Shot put

[10]

RankGroupAthleteNation
  1. 1
  1. 2
  1. 3
DistancePointsNotesOverallOverall rank
1BNafissatou Thiamx15.2015.5415.5489730701
2BAnouk Vetter13.8814.0415.0715.0786628218
3BNoor Vidts14.3414.2314.5714.5783229574
4AEmma Oosterwegel13.2814.5414.4614.54830279610
5AKatarina Johnson-Thompson13.3812.6514.4414.4482330202
6BSaga Vanninen13.9814.1913.6714.19807274418
7AMartha Araújo14.1513.6813.6914.15804277311
8BAnna Hall13.4214.11x14.1180129653
9BCarolin Schäfer13.8013.8814.0214.02795272416
10BAnnik Kälin14.0213.79x14.0279528426
11ASofie Dokter12.9113.9713.1013.9779228865
12AAdrianna Sułek-Schubert13.94xx13.947902808 9
13AXénia Krizsán13.8913.89x13.89787276213
14BKate O'Connor13.7913.3013.3213.79780268818
15BAuriana Lazraq-Khlass13.69xx13.69773264720
16BRita Nemes13.6413.2713.3313.64770271517
17BChari Hawkins13.6413.3213.0113.64770110022
18BTaliyah Brooks13.5812.7312.7713.5876628317
19ACamryn Newton-Smith12.4413.1112.5313.11735276912
20AJade O'Dowdax13.0513.1013.10734275814
21ATori West12.5212.8112.6812.81715261521
22ASveva Gerevini12.8012.2011.9812.80714268219
ASophie Weißenberg

200 metres

Wind:
Heat 1: +0.2, Heat 2: +0.4, Heat 3: -0.5[11]

RankHeatAthleteNationTimePointsNotesOverallOverall rank
13Katarina Johnson-Thompson23.44103540551
22Sveva Gerevini23.581021370313
33Sofie Dokter23.73100738935
42Carolin Schäfer23.85995371911
52Noor Vidts23.8699439514
63Auriana Lazraq-Khlass23.87993364018
73Annik Kälin23.8899238346
82Anna Hall23.8999139563
93Taliyah Brooks24.0297938107
101Adrianna Sułek-Schubert24.2096237708
112Emma Oosterwegel24.35947374310
123Anouk Vetter24.3694637679
131Nafissatou Thiam24.4693740072
142Martha Araújo24.46937371012
152Chari Hawkins24.49934280422
163Tori West24.73912352721
171Saga Vanninen24.74911365516
182Camryn Newton-Smith24.76909367814
191Kate O'Connor24.77908359619
201Xénia Krizsán24.92894365615
211Jade O'Dowda24.97890364817
221Rita Nemes25.61832354720
3Sophie Weißenberg

Long jump

[12]

RankGroupAthleteNation
  1. 1
  1. 2
  1. 3
DistancePointsNotesOverallOverall rank
1BMartha Araújo6.216.256.616.61104347537
2BAnnik Kälinx6.596.416.59103648703
3BNafissatou Thiam6.056.416.416.4197849852
4BNoor Vidts6.406.106.166.4097549264
5BKatarina Johnson-Thompson4.656.046.406.4097550301
6BJade O'Dowda6.336.336.316.33953460111
7ASofie Dokter6.26x6.086.2693048236
8AAdrianna Sułek-Schubert6.09x6.226.22918468812
9BTaliyah Brooks5.72x6.156.15896470610
10BAnouk Vetter6.126.106.126.12887465421
11BSveva Gerevini6.08x5.946.08874457715
12AXénia Krizsánx5.866.036.0385945159
13AAnna Hall5.935.805.725.9382847845
14AChari Hawkinsx5.905.665.90819362322
15ARita Nemes5.885.725.845.88813436019
16BSaga Vanninen5.855.824.955.85804445913
17AKate O'Connor5.675.755.795.79786438214
18ACamryn Newton-Smith5.415.785.465.78783446116
19AEmma Oosterwegel5.575.655.685.6875344968
20BAuriana Lazraq-Khlassxx5.595.59726436618
21ACarolin Schäfer5.52x5.525.52706442517
22ATori West5.415.395.255.41674420120
Sophie Weißenberg

Javelin throw

[13]

RankGroupAthleteNation
  1. 1
  1. 2
  1. 3
DistancePointsNotesOverallOverall rank
1BNafissatou Thiam54.04x52.5654.0493959241
2BEmma Oosterwegel51.7848.9752.3952.3990654028
3BKate O'Connor50.3650.1746.6350.36867524914
4AXénia Krizsán48.1945.2449.5249.5285153669
5BTori West48.79x41.8348.79837503820
6BAnnik Kälin48.1442.3745.8548.1482456943
7ASaga Vanninen46.8147.0046.0047.00802526113
8BCarolin Schäfer46.4546.3245.7546.45791521617
9AAnna Hallx45.9944.6045.9978355675
10BMartha Araújox40.6645.6745.6777655297
11AKatarina Johnson-Thompson44.64x45.4945.4977358032
12BAuriana Lazraq-Khlass43.6143.2545.3745.37771513718
13ANoor Vidts43.5443.8345.0045.0076356894
14ACamryn Newton-Smith38.9544.7744.0244.77759522016
15BChari Hawkins44.3042.40x44.30750437321
16AJade O'Dowda44.0543.3841.9444.05745534611
17ARita Nemes43.6442.7042.2743.64737509719
18BSofie Dokter41.2342.2642.4642.4671555386
19ASveva Gerevini37.7439.6836.3039.68661523815
20ATaliyah Brooks37.8438.7638.2238.76644535010
21AAdrianna Sułek-Schubert35.60x36.6336.63603529112
BAnouk Vetter
Sophie Weißenberg

800 metres

[14]

RankHeatAthleteNationTimePointsNotesOverallOverall rank
12Anna Hall2:04.391048=66155
22Katarina Johnson-Thompson2:04.90104168442
32Xénia Krizsán2:06.27102063867
42Noor Vidts2:06.38101867073
52Emma Oosterwegel2:08.6798463867
61Sveva Gerevini2:08.84982622013
71Auriana Lazraq-Khlass2:09.45973611016
81Rita Nemes2:10.10963606018
92Nafissatou Thiam2:10.6295668801
102Annik Kälin2:11.3394566394
111Adrianna Sułek-Schubert2:12.06935622612
121Jade O'Dowda2:12.12934628010
131Kate O'Connor2:13.25918616714
142Sofie Dokter2:13.5291464526
152Taliyah Brooks2:13.95908625811
161Saga Vanninen2:14.36902616315
171Chari Hawkins2:15.76882525521
181Carolin Schäfer2:16.78868608417
192Martha Araújo2:17.5585763867
201Tori West2:20.97810584820
211Camryn Newton-Smith2:24.63762598219
Anouk Vetter
Sophie Weißenberg

Overall results

Key

Key:OROlympic recordARArea recordNRNational recordPBPersonal bestSBSeasonal bestDNSDid not startDNFDid not finishNMNo Mark
RankAthleteNationOverall points100 hHJSP200 mLJJT800 m
Nafissatou Thiam6880
1041
13.56 s
1132
1.92 m
897
15.54 m
937
24.46 s
978
6.41 m
939
54.04 m
956
2:10.62 s
Katarina Johnson-Thompson6844
1065
13.40 s
1132
1.92 m
823
14.44 m
1035
23.44 s
975
6.40 m
773
45.49 m
1041
2:04.90 s
Noor Vidts6707
1109
13.10 s
1016
1.83 m
832
14.57 m
994
23.86 s
975
6.40 m
763
45.00 m
1018
2:06.38 s
4Annik Kälin6639
1144
12.87 s
903
1.74 m
795
14.02 m
992
23.88 s
1036
6.59 m
824
48.14 m
945
2:11.33 s
5Anna Hall6615
1071
13.36 s
1093
1.89 m
801
14.11 m
991
23.89 s
828
5.93 m
783
45.99 m
1048
2:04.39 s
6Sofie Dokter6452
1040
13.57 s
1054
1.86 m
792
13.97 m
1007
23.73 s
930
6.26 m
715
42.46 m
914
2:13.52 s
7Martha Araújo6386
1102
13.15 s
867
1.71 m
804
14.15 m
937
24.46 s
1043
6.61 m
776
45.67 m
857
2:17.55 s
Emma Oosterwegel6386
1063
13.41 s
903
1.74 m
830
14.54 m
947
24.35 s
753
5.68 m
906
52.39 m
984
2:08.67 s
Xénia Krizsán6386
1034
13.61 s
941
1.77 m
787
13.89 m
894
24.92 s
859
6.03 m
851
49.52 m
1020
2:06.27 s
10Jade O'Dowda62801046
13.53 s
978
1.80 m
734
13.10 m
890
24.97 s
953
6.33 m
745
44.05 m
934
2:12.12 s
11Taliyah Brooks62581124
13.00 s
941
1.77 m
766
13.58 m
979
24.02 s
896
6.15 m
644
38.76 m
908
2:13.95 s
12Adrianna Sułek-Schubert6226
1077
13.32 s
941
1.77 m
790
13.94 m
962
24.20 s
918
6.22 m
603
36.63 m
935
2:12.06 s
13Sveva Gerevini62201065
13.40 s
903
1.74 m
714
12.80 m
1021
23.58 s
874
6.08 m
661
39.68 m
982
2:08.84 s
14Kate O'Connor6167967
14.08 s
941
1.77 m
780
13.79 m
908
24.77 s
786
5.79 m
867
50.36 m
918
2:13.25 s
15Saga Vanninen6163
1034
13.61 s
903
1.74 m
807
14.19 m
911
24.74 s
804
5.85 m
802
47.00 m
902
2:14.36 s
16Auriana Lazraq-Khlass61101044
13.54 s
830
1.68 m
773
13.69 m
993
23.87 s
726
5.59 m
771
45.37 m
973
2:09.45 s
17Carolin Schäfer6084
1062
13.42 s
867
1.71 m
795
14.02 m
995
23.85 s
706
5.52 m
791
46.45 m
868
2:16.78 s
18Rita Nemes60601004
13.82 s
941
1.77 m
770
13.64 m
832
25.61 s
813
5.88 m
737
43.64 m
963
2:10.10 s
19Camryn Newton-Smith59821056
13.46 s
978
1.80 m
735
13.11 m
909
24.76 s
783
5.78 m
759
44.77 m
762
2:24.63 s
20Tori West58481033
13.62 s
867
1.71 m
715
12.81 m
912
24.73 s
674
5.41 m
837
48.79 m
810
2:20.97 s
21Chari Hawkins52551100
13.16 s
0
770
13.64 m
934
24.49 s
819
5.90 m
750
44.30 m
882
2:15.76 s
Anouk Vetter4654*
1052
13.49 s
903
1.74 m
866
15.07 m
946
24.36 s
887
6.12 m
Sophie Weißenberg
* – Anouk Vetter retired after long jump and did not participate in the remaining events.
** – Sophie Weißenberg was injured in the warmups before the 100 metres hurdles and did not participate in any events.

References

  1. News: Topping . Alexandra . Thiam wins Olympic heptathlon again but silver lining for Johnson-Thompson . 9 August 2024 . The Guardian . 9 August 2024.
  2. "All time Top lists – Senior – Heptathlon women ", World Athletics, 29 June 2024. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  3. "Season Top Lists – Senior 2024 – Heptathlon women ", World Athletics, 2024. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  4. Sean McAlister, "How to qualify for athletics at Paris 2024. The Olympics qualification system explained", Olympics.com, 20 December 2022. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  5. "Paris 2024 - Olympic Schedule - Athletics", Olympics.com. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  6. Web site: Road To World Athletics . 7 July 2024 . worldathletics.org.
  7. Web site: Women's Heptathlon 100m Hurdles Results .
  8. Web site: Sophie Weissenberg taken away in wheelchair after 'cruel' hurdles heptathlon warm-up injury.
  9. Web site: Women's Heptathlon High Jump Results .
  10. Web site: Women's Heptathlon Shot Put Results .
  11. Web site: Women's Heptathlon 200m Results .
  12. Web site: Women's Heptathlon Long Jump Results .
  13. Web site: Women's Heptathlon Javelin Throw Results .
  14. Web site: Women's Heptathlon 800m Results .

External links