Paris Olympics: Team USA's Anna Hall doesn't medal in heptathlon; Belgium takes gold, bronze
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Team USA's Anna Hall finished in fifth place in the women's heptathlon after running a 2:04.39 in the final event, the 800m. Belgium's Nafissatou Thiam and Noor Vidts took gold and bronze, respectively. Great Britain's Katarina Johnson-Thompson won silver.
The heptathlon is a grueling two-day, seven-event test of a range of skills. Here’s how Hall performed in her events prior to the 800:
100m hurdles: 13.36 seconds, placing seventh overall in the discipline.
High jump: 1.89 meters, placing third overall.
Shot put: 14.11 meters, placing eighth overall.
200m run: 23.89 seconds, placing eighth overall.
Long jump: 5.93 meters, placing 13th overall.
Javelin throw: 45.99 meters, a personal best, placing ninth overall.
Her compiled points after seven events put Hall in fifth overall position heading into the 800-meter finale.
This pep talk to Anna Hall from her family is what the Olympics are all about. 🥹 #ParisOlympics
📺 NBC & Peacock pic.twitter.com/yTIfu5vobH— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 9, 2024
Even making the Olympics was a significant win for Hall, who suffered a broken foot at the 2021 Olympic trials, and then underwent knee surgery earlier this year. But she rebounded from that adversity to win the heptathlon at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials in June, punching her ticket to Paris.
No American woman had won an Olympic gold in heptathlon since Jackie Joyner-Kersee, who achieved the feat in 1988 and 1992, to go with a silver she earned in 1984. Joyner-Kersee has been a mentor and confidant for Hall throughout her career.
"She’s just been so supportive," Hall told NBC Sports in June. "It's just been unreal. I need to be strong for her. How is she believing in me and I don’t believe in myself?"
