KJT’s remarkable comeback
Seb Coe, the president of World Athletics and a two-time Olympic champion, has endorsed Katarina Johnson-Thompson for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award. Coe praised KJT’s remarkable comeback from a serious injury in 2019 to win the world heptathlon title in Budapest in 2023. He said that KJT’s performance was “one of the most inspiring stories of the year” and that she deserved to be recognized for her resilience and determination.
KJT suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon at the 2019 World Championships in Doha, which put her career in jeopardy. She underwent surgery and a long rehabilitation process, which was made even more difficult by the Covid-19 pandemic and the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics. She managed to recover in time for the 2023 World Championships, where she beat the reigning Olympic champion Nafi Thiam of Belgium by 35 points to claim her first global title. She also broke the British record with a score of 6,981 points, the fourth-highest in history.
Coe said that KJT’s achievement was “extraordinary” and that he was “in awe” of her mental and physical strength. He said that he had witnessed her agony in Doha and her joy in Budapest, and that he was “delighted” for her. He added that KJT was a “great ambassador” for athletics and for women’s sport, and that he hoped she would win the SPOTY award.
Paris Olympics ticket prices too high
Coe also expressed his concern about the ticket prices for the 2024 Paris Olympics, which he said were too high and could deter fans from attending the event. He said that he was “shocked” by the prices, which range from €15 to €450 for the opening ceremony, and from €15 to €130 for the athletics sessions. He said that these prices were “out of reach” for many people, especially young people and families, who are the “lifeblood” of the Olympic movement.
Coe said that he had raised the issue with the Paris 2024 organizers, and that he hoped they would reconsider their pricing strategy. He said that he understood the need to generate revenue, but that he also believed in the “social value” of the Olympics, which should be accessible and affordable for everyone. He said that he wanted to see packed stadiums and enthusiastic crowds in Paris, and that he feared that high ticket prices could have a negative impact on the atmosphere and the legacy of the Games.
Coe said that he had learned from his experience as the chairman of the London 2012 Olympic bid and the organizing committee, where he had ensured that ticket prices were reasonable and that there were plenty of opportunities for people to get involved in the Games. He said that London 2012 had been a “huge success” and that he wanted Paris 2024 to be the same. He said that he was “passionate” about the Olympics and that he wanted to see them thrive and grow in the future.
Spoty shortlist controversy
Coe also commented on the controversy surrounding the Spoty shortlist, which excluded Josh Kerr, the world 1500m champion, who beat Jakob Ingebrigtsen, one of the all-time greats of middle-distance running, in a thrilling finish in Budapest. Coe said that he was “disappointed” and “surprised” by Kerr’s omission, and that he thought he deserved to be on the list. He said that Kerr’s victory was “one of the highlights” of the World Championships, and that he had shown “incredible talent and courage” to beat Ingebrigtsen, who had been unbeaten for two years.
Coe said that he had nothing against the six nominees, who are Emma Raducanu (tennis), Tom Daley (diving), Adam Peaty (swimming), Sarah Storey (paracycling), Max Whitlock (gymnastics), and KJT (athletics), but that he felt that Kerr should have been among them. He said that he hoped that the Spoty judges would explain their criteria and their decision, and that he respected their opinion. He said that he would vote for KJT, who he said was his “favourite” and his “friend”, and that he wished all the nominees the best of luck.
