EVERY professional athlete hopes to end their career on a glorious high. In reality, injury or misfortune often derails the dream or the body passes its peak. Not so for UK heptathlon superstar Jessica Ennis-Hill.
When one of Britain's most celebrated sportswomen announced her retirement aged 30 in 2016, it was as a three-time world champion with Olympic gold and silver medals. The London 2012 poster girl, who helped inspire the nation with her awesome Super Saturday win alongside Mo Farah and Greg Rutherford, achieved a fairytale finish, capping off a career in which she forever seemed blessed. Now, eight years after retiring, Jess has to remind herself that she experienced the occasional failure amid her relentless success.
"When I look back on it now, I do have that feeling of 'it all went well'," smiles Jess, who was made a Dame in 2017 for her sporting achievements. "But actually, when you're in it, it's so full on and stressful. There are so many highs and lows.
"I had a great few years as a junior athlete and made that transition to senior athlete quite well, but then I picked up injuries before the Beijing Olympics and missed that. It was then that I went on this upward trajectory - but it was never easy."
Conquering an event with seven disciplines is not for the faint of heart.
"I probably picked one of the hardest events to do and get right," says Jess, who lives in her hometown of Sheffield. "I don't know why I did but I had an amazing career.
"And I was very lucky to have a home Olympics when I was 26, coming into the form of my life. I do feel quite blessed it happened the way it did."
Today, still only 38, Jess is full of the same poise and relaxed energy we've seen countless times on the track.
この記事は Daily Express の August 03, 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は Daily Express の August 03, 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
Craig has real fire of a dragont
COOPER BACKS BELLAMY
SMITH PREVENTS TOTAL COLLAPSE
Jamie gives England hope
'Lucky' D-Day hero Donald dies aged 104
A D-Day veteran who helped liberate the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp has died aged 104.
'Any family can be affected by this'
TRACEY had no idea her son Alex was experiencing mental health problems before he took his own life while on holiday with friends.
Police chief finally admits being too slow to arrest extremists at Gaza rallies
SCOTLAND Yard has finally admitted officers were too slow to arrest extremists during pro-Palestine protests in London.
Three Israelis killed at Jordan border
THREE Israeli men were shot dead at a border point between Jordan and the occupied West Bank, say Israeli officials.
HARRY PLANS NEW COURT FIGHT TO GET TAXPAYER-FUNDED SECURITY
PRINCE Harry is to continue his legal battle for taxpayer-funded security, it was claimed yesterday - after his previous bid was thrown out.
In-loving memory
King attends church tribute
Return of Trump 'dangerous' and 'difficult for UK'
A FORMER British ambassador to the US said he worries more about a Trump second term than his first, as the former president's foreign policy is \"dangerous\".
Tom talks tough on migrants
TORY leadership hopeful Tom Tugendhat wants the UK to immediately \"leave parts\" of a major European human rights treaty to get a grip on the small boats crisis.
