Katarina Johnson Thompson has opened up on the body image issues that affected her whilst growing up in Liverpool.
In an interview with the Times to promote her new book titled ‘Unbroken: My Journey from Despair to Glory’ she revealed the struggles she went through during her school days.
She said: “The trend then was for girls and boys to be skinny. Girls especially didn’t want to be seen as masculine or muscly.
“They didn’t want anything going against them when they were discovering the reasons certain people got fancied. The way boys see you was so important. I was already struggling with being 6ft tall, so I paid a heavy price for the body that goes with athletics.”
Johnson Thompson, 31, grew up in Woolton and went to St Julie’s Catholic High School. It was here when she met and became close friend with actress Jodie Comer.
Since then, she has become the reigning world heptathlete champion after securing her second gold at the World Championships whilst running a personal best in the 800m in 2023.
In this summer’s Paris Olympics she continued to do Merseyside proud when she won her first Olympic medal, taking silver whilst beating several season bests.
Despite her achievements, the athlete has admitted that exposing her body in front of spectators was her “worst nightmare”.
She said: “Walking out into a packed stadium wearing just your bra and knickers, with millions more at home watching on TV. I mean, exposing your body like that has nothing to do with competing and yet, the first time you do it, it’s the greatest challenge of all.
“I’ve been exploring why I was so tough on myself and on my body. When I was younger I would say to it, ‘Why can’t I change you? I hate how you look.’ Then later, ‘Why aren’t you working? I’m begging you to work with me.’ Now I’m nearer to, ‘I understand you; I’m with you now.’”
Speaking to the BBC, Johnson Thompson said she began “finding herself as a person” after over coming this fear just three years ago.
Johnson Thompson has now resumed training after taking three months off after the Paris games.
