05 August 2010

UKA today confirmed that Britain’s reigning World and European Heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis has called time on her 2010 season in order to maximize her recovery time ahead of 2011.

The 24 year old, who came close to breaking the UK heptathlon record in winning her European Championship gold last week, made the decision alongside her coach Toni Minichiello to ensure  the long term plan including reaching 2012 in best possible shape was always the main priority.

Whilst there are several high profile events remaining in the 2010 summer season, Ennis has reiterated that maintaining her fitness and giving herself the best possible approach to 2012, is the ‘right decision’.

Ennis said:

“I have had an amazing season and to win the European Championships was just incredible, it was such a close competition but there was no way I was not going to win!

“I had planned to run in the Aviva London Grand Prix and possibly the Brussels Diamond League, but on serious reflection Toni and I have decided that rest is key to my recovery both from the Championships and the illness I had before I went.  

“We have to look at the next two years run into London and keeping me fit and healthy  and improving those areas of my performance that I can – and this is absolutely the right decision for me now.”

Toni Minichiello – UKA’s National Event Coach for Combined Events and Ennis’ coach – added:

“We have always made decisions based on what is best for Jess and also how best to improve her performance going forward – particularly with London 2012 on the horizon.   I have chatted to the wider team who work with Jess and we all feel a full de-brief and analysis of the season, and for her to recover fully is more important than chasing races.

“She will then come back to full training in October with our focus on making all the necessary advances for the 2011 season  to endeavour to keep her  ahead of the rest of her competition. We must never lose sight of the ethos of how we have always worked and calling it time on this season is the right thing for us to do”.