at St Mark ’ s Primary School , he noticed her natural talent in high jump , aged just 4 . Encouraging her to develop her skills , he laid the foundation for her athletic career .
At 11 , KJT moved to St Julie ’ s High School , where she met former PE teacher , Jo Hardiman , who quickly recognised her potential beyond jumping . Around this time , she began the six-mile journey from her home in Halewood to Liverpool Harriers ’ base in Wavertree Park to train . Her first coach there , Gayle Gilbert , spotted her talent in high jump early on , once telling fellow coaches , “ This girl ’ s good .”
From age 12 to 18 , KJT trained under several coaches at Liverpool Harriers , each leaving a lasting impact on her career . Stephen Carroll , now President of Liverpool Harriers , focused on improving her sprints , while Stan Roberts , who sadly passed away in 2021 , honed her jumping technique . Val Rutter later guided her shift from high jump to multi-event training , recognising her ability to excel in running as well .
At Liverpool Harriers , KJT began working with Mike Holmes , whose guidance helped her rise in the senior ranks . Holmes led her to notable achievements , including World Youth and European Under-23 heptathlon titles , and a World Junior long jump gold in 2012 . At just 19 , KJT competed in the London Olympics , finishing 15th . Though the result wasn ’ t all she had hoped for , she went on to claim a European Indoor Pentathlon title and a fifth-place finish at the 2013 World Championships in Moscow .
A turning point came in 2016 when KJT moved to France aged 23 , seeking further success under a new team . She worked with Jean-Yves Cochand , who , along with coaches Bertrand Valcin and Bruno Gajer , transformed her training . Cochand focused on refining her techniques in shot put and javelin , adjusted her jump run-ups , and emphasised smaller , more frequent sessions . The new approach led to multiple World , European , and Commonwealth medals , as well as British records in the heptathlon and pentathlon . During this time , she also set a World Record in the heptathlon high jump .
As Cochand moved toward retirement , KJT transitioned to training with Bruno Gajer who worked with her on her 800m , and Bertrand Valcin , who was already known for coaching decathlete Kevin Mayer . Valcin ’ s patience and belief in KJT played a crucial role in her comeback after the 2016 Olympics . Under Valcin ’ s guidance , she claimed gold at the 2019 World Championships in Doha and also won gold at the World Indoors , European Indoors , and Commonwealth Games . Valcin helped KJT become a world champion and a contender for Olympic success .
Now based in Loughborough , KJT works with Aston Moore , who began coaching her in 2023 . Moore ’ s challenge has been helping KJT recover from an Achilles rupture in her left leg that impacted her long jump ability , while strengthening her throwing events and instilling a sense of calm and focus . The culmination of this was winning a second World Championships title in Budapest in 2023 under Moore ’ s mentorship and guidance .
Katarina Johnson-Thompson ’ s coaching journey is one of resilience and growth , shaped by the belief , patience , and expertise of her mentors . From her early days in Liverpool to her two World Championship gold medals and Olympic silver medal , each coach has been essential in her path to greatness . Their guidance and her unwavering determination make KJT a model of resilience and an inspiration to athletes worldwide .