Superstar athlete Jessica Ennis-Hill announced yesterday that she is pregnant and so will not be competing in this summer’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
But, as multi-tasking is her forte as a heptathlete, the prospect of her juggling motherhood with a bid for Olympic gold at Rio 2016 is one she is determined to embrace.
Ennis-Hill intends to train throughout her pregnancy and could be back in action by early 2015.
The World Championships in Beijing next year are a target, but the main aim for the 27-year-old remains the Olympics in Brazil a year later, and the defence of the gold medal she won at the London Games.
Ennis-Hill married last year, and said it was “very unexpected” news that she and husband Andy Hill are to be parents, with her schedule for 2014 having been clearly mapped out with coach Toni Minichiello to include this year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Ennis-Hill announced in a statement released by her management: “I have some very unexpected but exciting news to share – Andy and I are expecting a baby. We are completely overwhelmed, with excitement and a degree of anxiety that I am sure all first-time parents will relate to.
“My plans for 2014 have been completely turned upside down, but having had a couple of weeks to think about things from a career point of view I am 100% set on returning to full-time athletics once our baby is born and go for a second gold medal at the Rio Olympics in 2016 – that challenge really excites me.
“But in the short term I will make our baby a priority and enjoy the whole experience as much as possible.
“I am sorry I won’t be in Glasgow for the Commonwealth Games, but know it will be an amazing occasion. I will be at home awaiting the arrival of a little Ennis-Hill.”
Mr Minichiello confirmed Ennis-Hill remains in training.
The heptathlon – 100 metres hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200m, long jump, javelin and 800m – demands peak physical fitness and there was speculation that Ennis-Hill may opt to specialise rather than tackle the full event.
She is already a world-class sprint hurdler.
Fellow British athlete Louise Hazel, who gave up heptathlon this year to concentrate on other events, said: “Is it possible to be an elite sportswoman and have a baby? Yes.
“Is it possible to come back from Olympic gold as a heptathlete and go on to Rio? It throws a huge question over the continuation of a career as a heptathlete and that’s just being realistic.”
Mr Minichiello has been making plans for Ennis-Hill during each trimester of the pregnancy, and says after the birth they will work “a step at a time” at priming the Sheffield athlete for competition.