Olympic star's home deciding way to 'best celebrate' success

Plans are to be drawn up on how Katarina Johnson-Thompson's home city can "best celebrate" the heptathlete's "exceptional" Olympic success.

The 31-year-old from Liverpool won silver in the heptathlon in Paris recently, her first Olympic medal to go with her previous World, European and Commonwealth golds.

She said at the time that she was "just so, so happy that I've got an Olympic medal to add to my collection".

At a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Liverpool City Council's leader Liam Robinson said the authority would work with Johnson-Thompson's team to "find a way to best celebrate" the achievements of the "genuinely inspirational" star.

Mr Robinson said the athlete, who also won gold medals at junior, youth and under-23 levels, was "a local heroine", who deserved being honoured by her home city.

"We’ve just come through another successful Olympics for Team GB and Liverpool’s very own Katarina Johnson-Thompson," he said.

"Achieving her silver medal was absolutely phenomenal.

"Events like the heptathlon are like mini-Olympics... it’s not just like being a specialist in one discipline, it’s having to be a strong specialist in all those different disciplines."

He said for her to achieve what she had, especially in light of past injuries, was "genuinely inspirational for young people in this city and across the whole country".

He said he had spoken to the council chief executive and would "shortly be speaking to Katarina and her team about how this city can appropriately celebrate her exceptional achievement".

In 2023, a mural of Johnson-Thompson, who began her career at local athletics club Liverpool Harriers, was painted on her former school in celebration of her Commonwealth gold.

Following her success in Paris, her friend and fellow Liverpudlian Jodie Comer posted an emotional congratulatory message on Instagram.

The Killing Eve and Free Guy actress said Johnson-Thompson's "persistence, poise and sheer talent will forever inspire those of us who are lucky enough to late night kitchen dance with you and millions more around the world".