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Anna Hall’s long and winding journey through injuries, heartbreak, and near-misses finally reached its golden destination in Tokyo. The 24-year-old American etched her name alongside one of the greatest athletes in history, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, by becoming only the second U.S. woman to win a heptathlon gold at the World Championships.
From heartbreak to history
Hall’s road to this moment was anything but smooth. In 2023, she fell agonizingly short at the Budapest World Championships, missing the gold medal by just 20 points to Katarina Johnson-Thompson. A year later, a knee injury hampered her preparation for the Paris Olympics, where she still fought her way to a fifth-place finish. Going back further, her Olympic trials in 2021 ended in disaster after she crashed into a hurdle, leading to surgery on her left foot and ankle.
“Two surgeries over the last four years, tough losses, heartbreak, losing my love for the sport a little bit, then getting it back, it really just represents all of that,” Anna Hall said, clutching her medal. “So many people had to speak into me for this to happen. This is a testament to them.”
Standing tall with Jackie Joyner-Kersee
Hall’s golden triumph wasn’t just another medal — it was history. With a winning score of 6,888 points, she joined Joyner-Kersee as the only American women to ever win the world heptathlon title. For Hall, having the GOAT herself in the stands watching made the moment even more surreal.
“It’s a pinch-me moment,” she said. “Any athlete, their biggest dream would be to have the GOAT of their sport giving them advice on how to do it.”
Joyner-Kersee, who still holds the 1988 world record in the event, praised Anna Hall’s potential: “It’s just a matter of time before it all comes together. She has the ability to put up whatever score she wants to put up.”
A confident finish in Tokyo
This time, Hall avoided the nerve-wracking finale that haunted her in Budapest. Heading into the final 800 meters, she led silver medalist Kate O’Connor by 122 points. Hall’s commanding performance gave her a comfortable 174-point cushion at the finish.
Reflecting on her final lap, Anna Hall said: “So I just tried to stay relaxed and do my job. Then, the last 200, I just kind of had a moment to myself and soaked in the crowd. That was a nice feeling.”
From nearly giving up on the sport to now standing on top of the world, Hall’s golden run in Tokyo was more than just victory — it was redemption.
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