Jessica Ennis-Hill has announced today that she will not be competing in the 2013 World Championships, in 10 days ‘ time.
The 26-year-old has struggled all season with a left achilles problem, and along with her coach, Toni Minichiello, has decided to pull out of Team GB.
Ennis-Hill competed last weekend at the Anniversary Games, and said she would make her decision over the following days, depending on how her injury reacted.
The heptathlete, understandably, was left “gutted” over her withdrawal.
“No athlete likes to miss the opportunity to compete at a major championship – they don’t come round that often,” she said.
Ennis-Hill used last weekends competition to test her fitness. She finished fourth in 100m hurdles with a time of 13.08seconds, and eighth (out of eight) in the long jump with a leap of 6.16m, both a fair way off her personal bests.
Just over one week ago, the 26-year-old competed in the Loughborough European Athletics Permit Meeting, and recorded a javelin best, with her 48.33m throw.
Prior to her two most recent competitions though, the heptathlete was forced to pull out of five meetings this year due to her ongoing injury problems.
Having competitively competed just twice since her gold medal at last years Olympic Games, Ennis-Hill lacked the fitness required to seriously contend for the gold she desired at the World Championships.
“Up until now we have been focusing on managing the pain so I can train and get myself in shape to win Moscow,” she said.
“The time has now come to stop chasing fitness and look to cure the problem.”
