Fellow athlete says some doubt over Ennis' Rio plans

While Ennis has set the Rio de Janeiro Games in 2016 as her goal, fellow heptathlete Louise Hazel believes there must be some doubt over the Yorkshire athlete staying in the multi-discipline event.

Hazel said: "Is it possible to be an elite sportswoman and have a baby? Yes. Is it possible to come back from Olympic gold as a heptathlete and go on to Rio... it throws a huge question over the continuation of a career as a heptathlete and that's just being realistic.

"I think she'll be able to come back and compete. The question is: in what event?

"Will she be able to get back to the same form she's been showing in recent years and be competitive?

"You have to look at people like Katarina Johnson-Thompson, who's been breaking Jess' junior records non-stop."

Hazel, who retired from heptathlon but is planning to continue her athletics career in other events, is backing 21-year-old athlete Johnson-Thompson to claim the Commonwealth title.