I've still got my famous six-pack, just about...but bodies change with motherhood

As she backs healthy eating and sports for children, former British heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis-Hill opens up about motherhood, body image and how she stays fit in retirement

- Kat Hopps

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.