Jessica Ennis' Injury Worry Ahead of 2012

Jessica Ennis has revealed that she is worrying about picking up an injury next year that would end her hope of Olympic gold.

The world champion heptathlete has been sidelined for the last two months with an ankle tendon problem and she fearful of picking up an injury next year.

Ennis is set to be the post girl for the 2012 Olympic Games in London and will be the favourite going into the competition to win gold.

But she already knows what it’s like to have her Olympic dreams dashed after missing out on Beijing in 2008 because of an injury problem.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror Ennis said: “At the time, the injury was something quite small which we didn’t think was a big issue, but then it lingered for ages.

“I had to back off in a lot of my training, I couldn’t even run. I missed about six or seven weeks of running, hurdling and high impact stuff.

“It was worrying and very stressful. I’ve been panicking the past few weeks because when you can’t run, and it goes on for weeks and weeks, it’s very difficult.

“I do think ‘What if this happened next year?’ I suppose I know what to expect, having gone through it this year. But it’s just luck. These things happen.

“You train so hard and put so much work in. But the Olympics only happens once every four years and it’s those key times you do pick up a slight injury or get ill - and it’s gone.

“It’s a really cruel sport, but if you get it right, it’s great.”

The injury saw Ennis out on the European Indoor Championships last month in Paris but will make her first outdoor appearance this summer in Manchester in the Great City Games in May.

And before she can turn her attention onto preparing for London she has the tough task of defending her world title in South Korea in August.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw