Ennis-Hill eyes history in Rio
If the 30-year-old mum wins in heptathlon she will be first British female to retain Olympic title
Jessica Ennis-Hill has history in her sights as the Olympic heptathlon champion heads to the Rio Games unburdened by stress after the pressure of carrying the hopes of a nation four years ago.
Ennis-Hill will attempt to become just the third athlete to win Olympic gold, have a baby and then return to successfully defend their crown.
If the 30-year-old triumphs in the heptathlon she will also be the first British female athlete ever to retain an Olympic title.
At the 2012 Games in London, Ennis-Hill knew the successstarved British sporting public were counting on her to win gold on home soil and she responded in spectacular fashion with a British record score of 6,955 points.
‘No pressure’
Having survived that emotional rollercoaster, Ennis-Hill knows nothing else in her career can match the pressure and expectation of her two days of competition at London’s Olympic Stadium. “It feels completely different this year. I don’t feel that stress and pressure I had in 2012 and last year as well when I decided to go to Beijing,” she said.
“I kind of feel I’ve come back from injuries and having my son and got back to the top of my sport. I felt more stressed in 2012 than any year I’ve experienced. Last year was a really unknown year. I didn’t plan to go to the Beijing World Championships, it was kind of a last-minute thing. I always had it in my mind that I wanted to come back and get back to my best. I always thought that would be this year and not last year.”
After giving birth to son Reggie, Ennis-Hill won the world title in Beijing and heads to Brazil as one of the favourites for gold. She racked up 6,733 points, her best score since London 2012 and only 32 off Brianne Theisen-Eaton’s world-leading score, in the heptathlon in Ratingen recently.