Jessica Ennis is expecting her first child, and is apparently thrilled with the news! The Olympic gold medallist announced the exciting news in a statement by her management earlier today, writing: "I have some very unexpected but exciting news to share - Andy and I are expecting a baby.
"We are completely overwhelmed, with excitement and a degree of anxiety that I am sure all first-time parents will relate to. My plans for 2014 have been completely turned upside down, but having had a couple of weeks to think about things from a career point of view I am 100% set on returning to full-time athletics once our baby is born and go for a second gold medal at the RIo Olympics in 2016 - that challenge really excites me.
"But in the short term I will make our baby a priority and enjoy the whole experience as much as possible. I am sorry I won't be in Glasgow for the Commonwealth Games, but know it will be an amazing occasion. I will be at home awaiting the arrival of a little Ennis-Hill."
Naw! The surprise may be that Jessica and her husband Andy Hill are very much the newly-weds, having gotten hitched only last May, so they might not have quite planned on a little one so soon! Although this means that Jess will miss the 2014 Commonwealth games, her victories at the 2012 Olympics will surely see her through as she achieved her personal best score for the seven-event competition.
Her fellow competitors are a little less optimistic about her return to sports after the birth of her baby though, as fellow heptathlete Louise 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."
Whatever Louise, we're excited whatever Jessica chooses to do!
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