Two World gold medals, an Olympic and an European one along with several youth medals, a PB 6.955 points in the heptathlon achieved during London 2012.
This is Jessica Ennis-hill’s curriculum, who grabbed the second place in Rio this year and who decided to retire from competitions in this season, despite being still capable to compete at high levels.
She announced it today on her Instagram profile with these words: “Beautiful memories… from the first World title in Berlin 2009 up until Rio 2016, I have been so lucky to have a wonderful career in the sport I love and this was one of the most difficult decisions to take. But I know it is right to retire now. I have always said I wanted to leave on a high and have no regrets, I can say it sincerely”.
In 2014, after the pregnancy, she did not compete for the whole season only to come back the following year and conquer the World Title in Beijing; she declared her will to retire after 2017, after competing in the World Championships which will take place in London but, apparently, she will hang up her shoes sooner than expected.
As the majority of the athletes, she has no will to drift away from her sport but she does not think to a career as a coach; her aim, in fact, will be to help people to be more active and to find their own role into sport, just as she did.
Photo Yue Yuewei/Corbis