It is early days, but Katarina Johnson-Thompson has made a strong start in her bid for an elusive Olympic medal.
Twice a world champion, the 31-year-old is yet to produce her best at the Olympics.
The Liverpudlian finished 14th on her Olympic debut in 2012, came sixth four years later in Rio and injury prevented her from finishing in Tokyo three years ago.
Johnson-Thompson also withdrew from the European Championships after just three events in June – but showed no ill signs in an encouraging display on Thursday morning at the Stade de France.
She was eighth fastest overall in the opening discipline – the 100m hurdles – before going toe to toe with two-time defending Olympic champion Nafi Thiam in the high jump.
Johnson-Thompson and Thiam were the only two women to clear 1.92m, and while the Belgian won the event as she needed fewer attempts to reach that height it was enough to put the Briton top of the standings after the first two events.
Thiam sits second overall, with Anna Hall of USA third and Johnson-Thompson’s team-mate Jade O’Dowda ninth.
The heptathlon continues on Thursday evening with the shot put followed by 200m. The athletes compete in long jump and javelin on Friday morning, before the 800m to conclude.
It was also a good morning for GB’s sprinters, as both the men’s and women’s 4x100m teams qualified for Friday’s finals.
The women won their heat, and still have 200m finallists Daryll Neita and Dina Asher-Smith as options for the final after they were rested on Thursday.
