Great Britain’s Katarina Johnson-Thompson captured an emotional fourth global heptathlon medal in unprecedented circumstances as she shared world bronze with American Taliyah Brooks in a dramatic concluding 800m in Tokyo.

Competing at the stadium where she suffered Olympic heartbreak four years ago, Johnson-Thompson, 32, did not know how to react as she continued her late-career resurgence by making a third consecutive major podium.

Needing to beat Brooks by about six seconds to leapfrog her rival on to the podium, Johnson-Thompson wore a puzzled look as it was confirmed they had finished on exactly the same points.

But the tears began to flow when her name – and Brooks’ – appeared lit up in bronze on the big screen, tied on 6,581 points to become the first heptathletes to split a world medal.

American Anna Hall claimed a breakthrough world title triumph and Ireland’s Kate O’Connor held on for a stunning silver, after three-time Olympic champion Nafi Thiam withdrew from the competition when ranked eighth earlier on Saturday.