Jessica Ennis-Hill insists she cannot afford to take any risks when it comes to trying to defend her Olympic heptathlon title after announcing she will miss the indoor athletics season through injury.
The 30-year-old had been set to begin her season at the Glasgow Indoor Grand Prix on February 20 but has reluctantly withdrawn due to an Achilles injury.
The heptahlete struggled with an Achilles problem in 2013, which caused her to miss the World Championships in Moscow. [quote:I am understandably frustrated but know this is the right approach: Jessica Ennis-Hill:left]
And with the 2016 Rio Olympic Games looming large on the horizon, Ennis-Hill has made the decision not just to miss Glasgow but the whole of the indoor season in order to ensure she is 100 per cent ready for Brazil.
She successfully managed a return to action last season following the birth of her son to clinch World Championship gold in Beijing and is once again listening to both her body and coaches.
“Training over the winter has been great – but in the last two weeks my right achilles has been sore,” she said.
“I am waiting on guidance from my medical team after having a scan, but with just two weeks to my first race my coach and I have made the decision to skip the indoors and keep the focus on Rio.
“My training schedule and the appropriate care is being developed now with the outdoor season as the focus. My priority has always been Rio and I don’t want to take any risks in the short-term.
“I am understandably frustrated but know this is the right approach. I am sorry not to be competing in Glasgow – it is such a great meet and the crowd is so supportive."
Sportsbeat 2016