Anna Hall expresses excitement upon "home" Olympics in Los Angeles after narrowly missing out on Paris 2024 podium

By Animesh Pandey

Modified Oct 30, 2024 03:12 GMT

Anna Hall may not have made it big at the Paris Olympics, but she is aiming big at the following edition of the sporting event, which will take place in Los Angeles in 2028. The 23-year-old finished fifth in heptathlon on her Olympic debut.

Hall, who won the silver medal at the World Championships in Budapest, accumulated a new season best total of 6615 points at Paris 2024. She won the 800m event and finished third in high jump but came seventh or below in the other five events, that led to her finishing fifth, 92 points behind the podium.

With over two months gone since the conclusion of the Paris Olympics, Anna Hall is already looking forward to the next edition of the sporting event in Los Angeles. The 23-year-old took to Instagram to express her excitement for the competition, that would be a home Olympic edition for her.

For the first time after more than four decades, the Olympics are returning to Los Angeles in 2028. Hall wrote about this on her Instagram story, stating:

"Next's one at home!"

Screenshot of Anna Hall's Instagram Story [Image Source : Anna Hall's Instagram]

The 23-year-old heptathlete had taken a long break after the Paris Olympics. In a Q & A session on the Instagram, Hall explained the reason for her absence.

"I took a real break from the track after the Olympics for the first time ever honestly. This year was hard and even though I didn't want to admit it, I needed [a break]. I spent it traveling, seeing my friends and family and getting my puppy....After taking real time away, I am nervous getting back in shape," she wrote.

Anna Hall made her Olympic debut in the women's heptathlon event at the Paris Olympics. She fell short of a podium finish by 92 points, finishing fifth overall with a seasonal best of 6615 points. However, she almost made it up with her final performance in the 800m segment, which she won with a timing of 2:04.39 minutes.

---

Anna Hall on recovering from injury before the Paris Olympics

Anna Hall in action at the Paris Olympics [Image Source : Getty]

The journey to Paris Olympics wasn't an easy one for Anna Hall. After her chances for the Tokyo Olympics were ruined by a fracture during the US Olympic trials in 2021, the 23-year-old heptathlete faced a similar situation before the Paris Olympics, when she was suffering from a knee injury, for which she had to undergo a surgery.

Hall recounted the experience in a conversation with the World Athletics, and how it almost took a toll on her performance at Paris. In her words,

"It was very painful emotionally and physically, she said. I was in pain a lot of days at practice trying things that I didn’t want to do, but doctors said, ‘If you want to push, this is what we’re doing.’ Emotionally, that’s super, super humbling," she said. (via World Athletics)

However, Hall has received immense support from former Olympic champions Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Daley Thompson.

With a personal best of 6988 points, Anna Hall is the fifth highest heptathlon scorer overall, behind Larisa Nikitina, Olympic champion Nafissatou Thiam, Carolina Kluft, and Jackie Joyner-Kersee.