WORDS BY SOPHIE GODDARD. PHOTOGRAPHS BY JAMES VEYSEY, STEPHENLOVEKIN/SHUTTERSTOCK, GETTY IMAGES, INSTAGRAM/KATARINA JOHNSON THOMPSONFinal word154
SZA
‘Szais one of my
favourite singers. When
I first heard her album
Ctrl, I couldn’t stop playing it;
the lyrics felt so powerful at that
point in my life. It was the summer
of 2017, and I was living in France.
The sun was always shining, and
it was a great time for me. Sza
is such a talented lyricist and
I really admire her personally, too.
Broken Clocksis my all-time
favourite song.’Katarina Johnson-Thompson is an ambassador
for QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot
Racecourse this year (britishchampionsday.com)RIHANNA
‘Ever since I was a kid, I’d copy Rihanna’s
hair and clothes. She’s more than just
a singer to me; she’s inspired me hugely.
I love how she doesn’t care what people think,
and the way she’s diversified into beauty and
being a brilliant businesswoman. I’ve got
all her Fenty eyeliners and wear them to
competitions, matching them to my Nike kit
each time. She makes you think, “Actually,
maybe Icouldtry something new”, and
is a great reminder that you don’t
have to stay in your lane.’JODIECOMER
‘Mostpeople don’t know that
Jodie and I went to the same school.
We became friends in Year 7 and are still
friends now. She is an incredible actress, and
I’m so happy people are finally seeing her in
her full glory. At school, she was always so
dedicated to acting and I was into athletics,
which were both not “conventional” subjects.
Seeing Jodie getting to the top of her
game after working unbelievably
hard inspired me to give it my
best shot, too.’S
H
A P E
D METHEW O M
E N
W H
ODENISE LEWIS
‘I first met Denise as a junior athlete, and
she was incredibly helpful to me after the Rio
2016 Olympics. I moved to France, and she
travelled with me during that time, helping me
make various choices about my career.
She’s always been really supportive. I’m
so thankful that she generously gave
me advice when I needed it
and didn’t know the right
questions to ask.’Record-breaking Olympic athlete Katarina
Johnson-Thompson on disappointing her
mother and going to school with Jodie Comer‘WhenI was younger, my mum
[Tracey Thompson] enrolled me in ballet
lessons. She used to be a showgirl,
travelling around the world, and figured I’d
like it. But I was such a tomboy, I hated it.
I remember her telling me to find something
Ididenjoy, which was athletics. Despite
feeling heartbroken that I didn’t follow in
her footsteps, she fully supported me
and never missed a competition.
I’m really grateful
to her for that.’MY MUM