Jessica Ennis has revealed her keenness compete in the 100m hurdles at the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.
The London 2012 heptathlon gold medalist ran 12.54 - a personal best and the same as American Dawn Harper's 100m hurdles winning-time at the 2008 Beijing Games – in the final heat during the games.
Sheffield-born Ennis will be 30 at the 31st Olympiad in four years, but was unfazed by the prospect of switching from the heptathlon to the hurdles.
An overwhelmed Ennis reacts after finishing the hurdles
“I love the hurdles and I surprised myself running that time,” Ennis told Huff Post UK Sport. “So I would love to do it in the future and see what I can do.
“This year’s going to be the heptathlon again, definitely, but in the future I want to give it a go and see what I can do. It would be nice just to do a different event as well.”
Ennis was touted as a potential runner in the final after her British record time at the Olympic Stadium, but the 26-year-old never gave it serious consideration.
“I was entered into the hurdles straight away as a precaution because of the qualifying time,” Ennis explains. “If something went horribly wrong in the heptathlon then of course I would have done it.
“But from the start it was never an option and I was so tired after the heptathlon I couldn’t imagine doing the hurdles. One gold medal is enough for me!”
Looking as serene as she was during Britain’s fortnight fiesta over July and August, Ennis is still committed to athletics and brushed off the hype that built up prior and during the Games.
Ennis in motion on the first Friday of the Games
In May, Ennis’ coach Toni Minichiello alleged a senior member of UK Athletics had labeled her “fat”, while as Team GB’s poster girl, it was suggested Ennis was at the mercy of commercial distractions, or “background noise”, as Minichiello described it.
However Ennis revealed that so positive was her mind-set at the time that her concentration could not be compromised.
“It came out [the ‘fat’ comment] just before I had my first heptathlon of the year, which was a big competition to see where I was, but it didn’t bother me too much,” she says nonchalantly.
“I was surprised at how big it got blown out of proportion but I was happy with my training and that was what was most important to me.
“I think if I was doubting my performances it may have rocked me a bit but a tried not to make a big issue of it. I just glossed over it.”
The anticipation prior to London’s first Olympics since 1948 made pressure inevitable, but Ennis suggests it was an additional motivation. “I wouldn’t have changed anything,” she confirms.
That Super Saturday victory is only referenced as a “strange feeling” rather than the descriptive reverie sportsmen and women usually opt for. It is as if Ennis may have enjoyed the chase more than the prize itself.
Although committed to athletics, Ennis admits moving into the “fashiony side” in the future is an attraction but speaks with relish ahead of tackling the drizzly mornings ahead this winter.
She will train on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day but will have the 25th off and is already looking forward to the odd mince pie, although she professionally adds “I train enough so I should burn them off”.
Few will argue she deserves to indulge.
Jess Ennis is #allin wearing the new adidas women’s spring summer collection available at adidas.com from January 2013. Jess wears: Supernova Racer Bra, M10 Short and Techfit Perfect tight
