Thursday 20 August 2015 23:11, UK
Jessica Ennis-Hill will take part in her first major championships since the birth of her son when she competes at the World Championships this weekend.
The 29-year-old was forced to miss the 2008 Beijing Olympics with a career-threatening foot injury but she will complete her comeback since becoming a mother in the Bird's Nest stadium on Saturday.
Ennis-Hill has been gradually returning to full fitness, having given birth to son Reggie last July.
There are positive signs she could return to her best after she recorded three season's bests over the 100m hurdles, 200m and long jump at the Anniversary Games in London at the end of July and she is keen to compete in Beijing having missed out on the Olympics in China seven years ago.
"Having that disappointment in 2008 I knew that I didn't want to be that athlete who gets an awful injury and you never hear of her again," she said.
"I knew that I wanted to come back and do everything I possibly could to make sure I was that same athlete, if not better.
"But I could never imagine I would go on to win what I won in the following years and be in the situation I am now."
Ennis-Hill will go head-to-head with Katarina Johnson-Thompson for the first time since her team-mate emerged as a genuine rival to her heptathlon crown, with Ennis-Hill keen to show she is capable of mounting a creditable defence of her Olympic title.
"I'm really ambitious and I'm competitive and I want to do my best," added Ennis-Hill.
"I'm here halfway round the world, away from my son for over two weeks and I want to make it worthwhile and perform well."
The World Championships will also offer Johnson-Thompson the opportunity to impress on the world stage.
The Liverpool athlete admitted she was "really scared" when tipped by Ennis-Hill three years ago to be the athlete to beat in Rio but now feels more comfortable in the spotlight.
"I remember thinking how far behind I was and how advanced these girls were and how I was never going to progress that much in four years," she said.
"I started to stress a little bit after that so I am thankful I have been able to progress as fast as I have and it's all come together for me."
