Belgian star Nafissatou Thiam made a victorious return in her first completed heptathlon since clinching her third Olympic title in Paris two years ago at the Decastar meet in France on Saturday.
The 32-year-old has struggled with injuries since winning gold at the 2024 Games and also endured a fractious relationship with the Belgian athletics federation. But she delivered a perfect comeback at the Talence venue where she had also won in 2019.
A score of 6 482 points was enough for Thiam, who impressed particularly in the shot put and javelin, to edge out promising young German Anna-Elisabeth Ehlers by 108 points.
"It's been a very difficult two years with a lot of problems," said Thiam, who also won the world championship title in 2017 and 2022.
"To finally be able to finish a heptathlon and be a heptathlete again – I'm really happy.
"I've had years with great results but where I wasn't in a good place mentally, I didn't really enjoy what I was doing anymore.
"So, being here, enjoying myself, and having fun with the other women in front of a great crowd means the world to me."
An emotional Thiam withdrew from the 2025 world championship heptathlon in Tokyo while sitting eighth in the standings after five events and with little chance of winning a medal.
She could become the first woman to win four consecutive track and field Olympic golds in the same event at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.