The news of the day comes to us from the UK. The results are in from Monday's scan of 22-year old British Heptathlete Jessica Ennis' ankle. Word on the street is that she has sustained a stress fracture that will require immediate rehabilitation. Sources vary about which ankle is in fact injured, but the majority point to the right. This news puts a damper on Ennis's 2008 Beijing Olympic dreams.
It is unclear whether the injury was sustained at last weekend's IAAF meet in Gotzis, Austria (a budding home of international Heptathlon and Decathlon competition) or if the meet only aggravated a previous "niggle" sustained more then a week ago during training. (According to Telegraph.co.uk, a "niggle" is a runners term for a small hitch in the step). Some say Ennis began to show signs of discomfort during her 100m hurtle event, while others say she expressed concern after her 200m run. Whatever the case may be, she decided to drop out of the two-day competition at the end of day one. Despite the injury and withdrawal from competition, Ennis still managed to throw up a 1.85 meter high jump, three personal best shot put throws, and a strong 200m run. In fact, she was in second place at the end of the day...with the injury.
Ennis has been the talk of the town in the UK this past year. Her mental and physical abilities are said to be of the highest quality. As a result, this injury is very disappointing. Ennis' ankle, combined with a knee injury to Nicola Sanders (world 400m silver medalist), a femur stress fracture to marathon runner Paula Radcliff, an Achilles tendon injury to sprint relay gold-medalist Mark Lewis-Francis, and the untested summer performance ability of fellow heptathlon athlete Kelly Sotherton (due to her recovery from a kidney infection) put the British team in what might seem like a shaky position. Fortunately, UK Athletics performance director Dave Collins appears to be confident in his team. According to the Independent.co.uk and TimesOnline, Collins said, "I hope people don't start saying the sky is falling down," as well as urging, "against undue pessimism" while highlighting, "several promising performances, foremost of which was a 100 meter time of 10.06 seconds for Tyrone Edgar at Saturday's Geneva meeting." Brits Martyn Rooney and Larry Achike both had stellar Geneva performances in the 400m and triple jump.
Ennis, although "gutted", seems very positive about her situation. "I'm obviously upset with the results and I'm gutted to be missing out on my first Olympics, but injury is part of life as a Heptathlete. I am determined to make a full and speedy recovery from this and enjoy a long athletic career." Teammate Denis Lewis, who knows a thing or two about recovering from injury, gives Ennis words of encouragement saying, "It's about the battle-scarring you need to be an Olympic champion. When you are fit, it's easy, but there are lots of times when you are not fully fit and you still have to go out there and do it. It's the grit and determination you need to be a champion and I think Jessica has got that." At only 22, Ennis can confidently look forward to 2012 and 2016 (Hopefully in Chicago!)
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