Jessica Ennis-Hill to consider her future after Olympics heptathlon silver
Sunday 14 August 2016 15:22, UK
Jessica Ennis-Hill admits she faces a "big decision" over her future after claiming heptathlon silver at the Rio Olympics.
The 30-year-old's bid to become the first British woman to retain an Olympic title in athletics was halted by 21-year-old Belgian Nafissatou Thiam, who produced five personal bests from seven events to win by 35 points.
Two years after the birth of her son Reggie, the Sheffield athlete accepted her competition in Rio might have been her farewell.
"Emotions are still pretty raw and it's a big decision," the London 2012 champion told Sky Sports News HQ. "I have done athletics my whole life since the age of 10 and it has been a huge part of my life and who I am. So it will be hard to step away from the sport, but it's something I have to decide and make that conclusion soon.
"I need to make sure it is the right decision for me."
Ennis-Hill, who won her second world title last year in Beijing, has always maintained she is now a mother first and an athlete second.
Her training has fitted round looking after her son, who has often accompanied her to sessions.
She has spoken about how difficult she has found it to spend time away from Reggie, while she opted to skip the Team GB holding camp ahead of the Games to minimise the amount of time she had to spend apart from her family.
"It's been a great journey but I have had a fantastic team around me. I can't wait to see Reggie now and give him a big hug," she added.
A golden goodbye would have been the perfect way to bow out, but Thiam had other ideas and Ennis-Hill praised the Belgian's performance.
"She has had potential for a while and she put everything together perfectly on those two days. Her individual events were incredible, her high jump was unbelievable and she deserved the gold," said the Briton.
Ennis-Hill lost out by only 35 points but she insists she has no regrets about her performance and is content with her silver medal.
"It was a great two days," she said. "It was emotional, it had excitement. It was physically draining, mentally draining, but a brilliant two days of competition.
"It was incredible to see so many British flags around the stadium. To know we have such great support and that people come out here, travel all the way to Rio to support us, was so special. It makes a big difference.
"I just had to give it everything [in the 800m] and I went off hard and ran my heart out. Unfortunately it was not enough but I am very proud to have won the silver.
"I will always look back and think, if I had done that, if I had done this, but it was meant to be a silver for me this time."
There was to be no repeat of 'Super Saturday' in London as Greg Rutherford claimed a bronze in the long jump to leave only Mo Farah with back-to-back golds, but Ennis-Hill still hailed the star trio's achievement of securing medals four years on from 2012.
"I saw Mo and Greg. Mo is ecstatic and I gave him a hug," she said. "I think it is incredible that we have all been able to achieve what we did in London and then, four years down the line as older athletes, still come away with three medals. It is pretty special."
