Tokyo Olympics 2020: British heptathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson disqualified in heartbreaking scenes

In perhaps the saddest sight we've seen in Tokyo, a British heptathlete's brave attempt to finish a race with a major injury went unrewarded.

Katarina Johnson-Thompson ruptured her Achilles at the end of 2020 and also underwent surgery on an unspecified issue.

The fact the 28-year-old had managed to make the start line in Tokyo was an achievement in itself, something she called a personal "victory".

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But after 80m of Wednesday's 200m heat, the fourth of seven rounds of competition, reigning world champion Johnson-Thompson crashed to the floor in agony and remained there with her head in her hands.

A wheelchair was brought to the track but she refused that and decided to carry on running to record a time.

Katarina Johnson-Thompson limps to finish the 200m heats in the women's heptathlon after pulling up with an injury. Photo / Getty

However, in a cruel twist, officials disqualified her after deeming she had stepped outside of her lane.

Wow, just saw Katarina Johnson-Thompson, the world heptathlon champion, refuse a wheelchair in obvious distress so she could limp across the finish line in the 200, the last event of Day 1.

Gut-wrenching

— Doug Smith: Raptors (@SmithRaps) August 4, 2021

Prior to that race, she had been lying in fifth place overall and knew that the track events were her strongest disciplines.

Katarina Johnson-Thompson of Team Great Britain receives medical attention as she sits injured during the women's heptathlon 200m heats. Photo / Getty

"Unfortunately Katarina Johnson-Thompson sustained an injury to her right calf during the 200m and has had to withdraw from the heptathlon," British Athletics said in a statement.

"To confirm, it is not a repeat of her recent Achilles injury which was on her left leg. There will be no further comment this evening."