Jessica Ennis admits breaking the 7,000 points barrier is a target, but the London 2012 heptathlon champion isn’t about to let her pursuit manifest itself into an obsession.
In winning Olympic gold in the capital last summer, Ennis not only excelled with a new personal best but set a British record of 6,955 points in the process.
Only three women in the history of the event have broken the 7,000 points barrier; American Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Sweden’s Caroline Kluft and Larisa Turchinskaya of Russia.
And while Ennis insists she is eager to find the 45 points that will add her name to that illustrious list, the 27-year-old is not about to let it rule her preparations for the 2013 World Championships in Moscow.
"It is a big challenge to replicate what I did in London and doing a little bit more is going to be really difficult, but it is something I am working towards,” said Ennis, speaking in Rio de Janeiro, the 2016 Olympics host city, where on Monday she was named Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year.
"I don't know about [doing it at] the Worlds. That is a big target.
"I am happy with the way training is going, but I think you never know - you can't focus too hard on it.
"It is like the British record. I kept getting close and never quite getting it, and then when I didn't expect to do it, I did it.
"So I have to have it there, floating around as a goal, but not become obsessed with it."
© Sportsbeat 2013