Johnson-Thompson says she still has the hunger after completing heptathlon in Birmingham

Katarina Johnson-Thompson said she still has the hunger to compete after completing the heptathlon at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham on Saturday. The two-time world champion finished the seven-event contest despite an injury-hit season that has limited her appearances.

Johnson-Thompson crossed the finish line of the concluding 800m wearing a broad smile to warm cheers from the home support in Birmingham. At the end of the first day of competition on Friday she said she was "just happy to be here" following an injury-hit year during which she has barely competed. The 33-year-old Olympic silver medallist placed 21st out of the 21 athletes to complete the seven events, while British team-mate Jade O'Dowda finished 13th and Ireland's Kate O'Connor claimed gold.

Johnson-Thompson secured her sixth global podium with bronze at last year's World Championships, her third in as many years, after returning from a career-threatening Achilles rupture. Prior to these European Championships she had competed only once since that comeback — in the shot put at an event in Loughborough in May. She withdrew from last month's Commonwealth Games to ensure she could compete in Birmingham.

Having competed at Alexander Stadium as a junior, Johnson-Thompson was determined to make the start line and to soak in the adoration of the home crowd. Johnson-Thompson told BBC Sport: "I am thinking of the future. I have always said I want to be competitive. If I'm not competitive, I will start asking questions." "I've still got sand behind my nails, my body is still warm. I cannot think about the future too much. I want to be in the moment. "Of course, I don't want to be here just to be a participant. The hunger is still there, and I love this event so much."

Reflecting on her performance, Johnson-Thompson said: "It is obviously far from my best. Not the competition I would have wanted, but in a way it is." "It was important to me that I finished. I wanted to do it for [my team] as we worked so hard to be here." "After the initial shock of the hurdles and the 200m, I definitely came back with a different mindset today to soak it all in." "I have done so many championships now. Since 2012 I have only ever missed one. "It is important to me, I enjoy the experience now more than ever."

There are further opportunities for global honours on the horizon, with a World Championships and Olympic Games in the next two years. Johnson-Thompson has said she wants to remain competitive as she plans for those events.