Jessica Ennis-Hill is really one of the great athletes out there, and it’s always such a pleasure to see her do what she does best.
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She passed halfway in just over 62 seconds, with Thiam four seconds back.
Ennis-Hill emphatically won the 800m – the final discipline of the competition – but needed to finish 9.47 seconds ahead of Thiam to claim gold. “She’s had two great days she wasn’t going to give that up”.
Asked if this would be her last, she said: “Possibly” and said she would go away to spend time with her family before making a decision.
But she may find it hard to walk away from a chance to go for the top spot and retain her crown at the World Championships next year in London – the sight of that famous night four years ago when Ennis-Hill cemented her place in the hearts and minds of the British public.
“I don’t want to cry on TV, but yeah, these years have been incredible”.
“When I came off from the javelin I had to speak to (coach) Toni (Minichiello) and I said, ‘what have I got to do?'”
Hull City footballer Curtis Davies wrote: “It took 5 PB’s in 7 events to beat Jess Ennis-Hill”. I’ve got to have a think.
Despite finishing sixth overall in the final event, Canada’s Brianne Thiesen-Eaton secured bronze with a 0.97 victory over her rival. “I’m just so emotional and yeah I’ve just got to make a decision as to whether this is my last heptathlon or not”.
The world championships take place in London next year, with a return to the stadium at which she won in 2012 possibly providing enough motivation to continue for at least one more year.
The title holder raced out of the blocks straight into first place, setting out her ambitions from the start.
It was a fully deserved victory for Thiam, who recorded five personal bests from the seven events en route to gold, including the 800m.
“It’s insane. I wasn’t expecting that – maybe top eight, but not the gold”.
Nafissatou Thiam’s javelin throw was the decisive factor in her winning heptathlon gold.
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It was heartbreak for Team GB favourite Jessica Ennis-Hill as she gave herself too much to do in the final event of the heptathlon, falling two seconds short of overturning Belgium’s Nafi Thiam. “At this moment, I’m exhausted and emotional, it’s a big decision”.
