Can Jessica Ennis-Hill do it again? Can she follow up on her London 2012 Gold Medal in the Heptathlon. She is one of the greatest athletes that Great Britain has ever produced and capped her brilliant career with that remarkable gold four years ago. That was the pinnacle of her career, setting British and Commonwealth records along the way with a points haul of 6,955 landing the win by 306 points over silver medalist Lilli Schwarzkopf.
What set her up for victory then was a remarkable first day of action where she racked up 4,158 points, which was her highest ever points haul on day of a Heptathlon, setting personal bests in the 100m hurdles and in the 200m as well. Of course following her hugely popular win, she was honoured in so many different ways, and she is a real icon of British athletics. Can she successfully defend her Olympic gold medal in Rio?
She missed the 2016 indoor season because of injury and turned out in Ratingen Germany this summer with a win with 6,733 points on the board recorded a personal best in the long jump as well. With her big effort after coming back late in training because of pregnancy for the 2015 World Championships, she still managed to go out and take gold. How the fans would love to see her take another one as she heads to Rio.
At the 20165 World Championships, Katarina Johnson-Thompson looked set to make a real splash in the competition. She was second only to Ennis-Hill after day one of the tournament, but three foul jumps recorded in the long jump saw her crash and burn and critics were questioning whether or not she could handle the pressure. That was a blow for her, finishing down in 28th. But she has potential, unquestionably as was seen in her 5th place finish at the 2013 WOrld Championships.
The 23 year old is obviously more mature and holds a personal best of 6,682 in the Heptathlon. Can she deliver on the biggest stage of all? She would probably need something a little extra special to what she has done before in her career and has to of course handle the pressure as well. Not only does she have to compete with Ennis-Hill, but other Heptathlon great Brianne Theisen-Eaton will be at Rio 2016 as well.
Canada’s Theisen-Eaton holds her country’s Heptathlon record with 6,808 points. She has claimed silver at the 2013 and 2015 World Championships. She was actually going off as favourite in the 2015 World Championships, because since Ennis-Hill had come back from pregnancy, Theisen-Eaton has been posting higher scores than the British athlete. However, Theisen-Eaton was outperformed at London 2012, not able to hit the heights that she had already made that season.
As a prediction, we would run with Jessica Ennis-Hill. She is the top performer when it comes to turning on the goods on the big stage. She is able to cope with the pressure, she still seems to be able to push herself to personal bests and there could yet be another tremendous land mark in her career, by becoming a double Olympic champion.
Heptathlon Outrights
Jessica Ennis-Hill 13/8, Brianne Theisen-Eaton 3/1, Katarina Johnson-Thompson 3/1, Laura Ikauniece Admidina 12/1
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