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Katarina Johnson-Thompson
‘You should overeat on your rest days too’: Katarina Johnson-Thompson. Photograph: Mike Marsland/WireImage
‘You should overeat on your rest days too’: Katarina Johnson-Thompson. Photograph: Mike Marsland/WireImage

Sunday with Katarina Johnson-Thompson: ‘I don’t think I’d make a good traitor. I can’t lie to save my life’

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The athlete on resting, a big brunch and telly with her boyfriend

Sunday rest? It’s the only day I get off from training, so it’s about looking ahead and making sure my body is fully recovered for the next training cycle. If I’m being a really good athlete, I’ll have an ice bath to recover my legs. A lot of people think because you’re on a rest day you can’t eat as much, but really you should overeat on your rest days, too.

What are you scoffing? I love to go for brunch, because every other morning I’m training and I normally have to eat on the go. On Sundays, I make the effort to have a full English breakfast, or eggs Benedict, or pancakes, either with friends or by myself with a book.

Sunday activities? It depends what time of year it is. Maybe there’ll be a football match I’ll watch in the afternoon. I support Liverpool. The last time I went was for Jürgen Klopp’s second-to-last game against Tottenham. I had to go and say bye in my own way.

Sundays growing up? I’m from the generation that played out in the streets, so I’d be out with my friends. I used to live opposite my nan and grandad. It was just me and my mum. I haven’t got any siblings, so I’d be with my friends playing Pokémon on my Game Boy or playing football.

Sunday telly? My boyfriend [British hurdler Andrew Pozzi] lives in Cardiff, but I live in Loughborough, so we’ll start a programme together and watch it at the same time. We’ve been watching Traitors. I don’t think I’d make a good traitor. I can’t lie to save my life.

Family time? I live by myself, but try to go back to Liverpool on the weekends to see my mum when I can. I’ll be away this month and in August, too. I’m looking forward to my fourth Olympics. It’s an honour to be selected.

Keep on running: Katarina unveiling her mural on 8 July 2024. Photograph: Anthony Devlin/PinPep

British Gas has commissioned a mural in Liverpool dedicated to Katarina Johnson-Thompson for the Paris Olympics

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