Britain's Katarina Johnson-Thompson's World Championship medal hopes have gone up in smoke after she failed to record a distance in the long jump as Jessica Ennis-Hill stayed in front.

Greg Rutherford demanded critics lay off Katarina Johnson-Thompson after her long jump collapse cost her a heptathlon medal at the World Championships in Beijing.

Katarina Johnson-Thompson began her quest for redemption after her heptathlon 'walk of shame' by comfortably qualifying for the long jump final at the athletics World Championship.

The Scottish runner has been in fine form and she leads a team packed with medal prospects. Performance director Neil Black said he is 'pleased with the blend of the team' for the championships.

With the World Championships in London just around the corner, the excitement levels are slowly starting to build. WILL KELLEHER takes a look at the athletes that fans should watch out for.

RIATH AL-SAMARRAI AT THE LONDON STADIUM: Johnson-Thompson, there was a degree of redemption, considering it was this discipline that wrecked her chances in the heptathlon.

UK Athletics chief executive Niels de Vos has defended Britain's performance at the World Championship by claiming an athletics medal is the hardest prize to win in sport.

The 25-year-old is favourite for the pentathlon at the World Indoor Championships, which were getting under way on Thursday but has played down her chances of winning.

In the space of a pentathlon on Friday, Johnson-Thompson ran, jumped and threw her way out of the realm of perennial underachiever and into one reserved for world champions.

Katarina Johnson-Thompson sits top of the leaderboard after the opening morning of the heptathlon at the European Championships.

Her haul of 4,138 points puts her 96 clear of the Olympic champion from Belgium, which is not unusual - the configuration of this event is such that she usually has the best of day one.

RIATH AL-SAMARRAI IN DOHA: After all the squirming and falling and doubting and fouling, the Kat finally let herself out of the bag. The 26-year-old can now officially call herself the world's best.

Johnson-Thompson could break the 12-year-old European heptathlon record, according to the former champion who played a major role in the transformation of her career.

The heptathlete, 26, shared a sun-drenched snap of herself to Instagram on Monday posing on an idyllic sea swing.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY RIATH AL-SAMARRAI: I'll tell you one that surprised me - it was a message from my language tutor,' says Katarina Johnson-Thompson.

Saunders, an A&R with Rockstarr Music Group, took to Instagram with a post ripping the Grammy-nominated artist, 36, over the presentation and promotion of the single.

The TV host, 40, revealed she felt the 'weirdest craziness of emotion' after giving birth to her baby daughter Patricia in September 2018.

EastEnders star Balvinder Sopal has joined in the campaign to get the public to wash their hands more frequently during the pandemic.

The actress, 32, looked radiant as ever as she modelled her latest collection for very.co.uk in a stunning photoshoot.

The 28-year-old was spotted filming a cameo on the hit CW series after deciding to dip his toe in the acting pool.

He became famous for his gregarious personality after scooping double gold at the London Olympics. And it has paid off for swimmer Ryan Lochte, as he has just been given his own reality television show.

Ryan Lochte and his British girlfriend Jaimee Hollier have managed to keep a four-year romance under wraps - and away from his fans, MailOnline can reveal.

The father of Olympic swimming champion Ryan Lochte today insisted he would never ask his $3million son for financial aid - despite losing his home to foreclosure.

One Scottish fan used post-it notes to give himself a tan replicating Croatia's checkerboard flag (pictured), while a Wales supporter defiantly plastered a Welsh flag on his desk at work.

The president and first lady are staying at the Trump-owned Turnberry property in South Ayrshire through Sunday. Eric Trump is also in town, having arrived Thursday in the Trump family plane.

Dundee has a proud history of shipbuilding and manufacturing but the city is reinventing itself as a centre of arts and culture, thanks to the futuristic V&A museum and gallery opening this autumn

Prince Andrew, 58, looked in his element as he enjoyed a chat with Sky TV commentator Andrew Coltart the 147th Open Championship at Carnoustie Golf Club in Scotland on Friday.

The Duchess of Cambridge, 37, looked elegant in Princess Diana's diamond and sapphire clusters as she joined Prince William in Dundee on Tuesday.

From Ryder Cup glory in Paris one Sunday to an extraordinary collapse at St Andrews, Tyrrell Hatton knows all about the contrasting emotions this fickle game can generate.

Teeing it up for the first time since the Ryder Cup, Reed showed no signs of rust and made four birdies to turn in 32 before gains on the first three holes ensured he steered clear of the chasing pack.

Thomas Pieters will take a one-shot lead into the weekend at the Maybank Championship as he bids to end his two-and-a-half-year wait for a regular European Tour title.

Brooks Koepka finished the opening round of the USPGA with a staggering round of 63 to finish -7 and give him the outright lead. The American posted seven birdies and no bogies.

Brooks Koepka made a mockery of Bethpage Black's fearsome reputation in the first round, but there is still all to play for with three rounds to go. Follow all the action right here.

They say there's no such thing as the perfect golfer but over three rounds of complete domination at the USPGA Championship, Brooks Koepka has given a pretty good impression.

Brooks Koepka won the 101st USPGA Championship on Sunday to join the legends of the game with his successful defence of the Wanamaker Trophy.

Tommy Fleetwood is determined to keep a sense of perspective as he looks to end the major season on a high at the Open Championship at Royal Portrush.

DEREK LAWRENSON AT ROYAL PORTRUSH: Less than two hours after setting foot in Northern Ireland for the first time, Tiger Woods had checked into his rental home, and was on the first tee.

INTERVIEW: After a few years of the weird and wonderful, you won't be too surprised to learn that the Claret Jug has been on a rather more sedate journey in the safe hands of Francesco Molinari.

IAN LADYMAN AT PORTRUSH: Outgoing champion Francesco Molinari admitted he hadn't particularly enjoyed the experience of defending his title this week.

Tiffany Watson and Sophie Piper set pulses racing as they posed in lingerie for a new campaign with Boux Avenue this week.

Lizzo, who performed to enormous praise at last week's MTV Video Music Awards, continued the fun onstage this weekend at the Made In America festival in Philadelphia.

Qatar World Cup officials have asked Glastonbury Festival organisers to help them plan desert camp sites for fans ahead of the 2022 tournament, according to The Mirror.

Wales are aiming to claim the third Grand Slam of the Warren Gatland era by dispatching Ireland in the second of the final day's three matches.

With World Cup organisers taking the unprecedented decision to cancel two World Cup matches, Sportsmail answers the key questions on the storm that has rocked the tournament.

Saracens' case for their defence fell at La Defense as the besieged Barnet bashers were battered by Racing 92. The reigning Champions Cup holders took their biggest continental loss in two years.

Exeter Chiefs are desperate for their 'normal' squad to solve the European puzzle this year, having added Border piece Stuart Hogg. The 27-year-old Hawick-born full-back faces his old club.

Finn Russell was dropped from Scotland's Six Nations opener after refusing to stop drinking at the team's hotel bar and then skipping training the following morning.

Gino D'Acampo's son Luciano attended Tilly Ramsay's 18th birthday after she went public with her new beau despite her dad Gordon claiming they were dating weeks before.

Kentucky senator mocks Obama's U.S. health care overhaul, as new poll shows 54 percent of Americans don't support the Obamacare law

Paul told the Family Leader he had to skip the group's annual summit - of which he was a sponsor - because he had to attend an event in New York with his family.