Ennis hangs up her spikes for the summer

Jessica Ennis has decided to call time on her outdoor season in the wake of her heptathlon victory at the European Championships in Barcelona last weekend. After discussions with her long-time coach, Toni Minichiello, the 24-year-old Sheffield athlete announced yesterday that she would not be taking part in the Aviva London Grand Prix at Crystal Palace next Friday or Saturday and would be hanging up her running spikes for the summer.

"I had planned to run in the Aviva London Grand Prix and possibly the Brussels Diamond League," Ennis said, "but on serious reflection Toni and I have decided that rest is key to my recovery both from the European Championships and the illness I had before I went out there.

"We have to look at the next two years, running into London 2012. I have had an amazing season and to win at the European Championships was incredible. It was such a close competition but there was no way I was not going to win."

Ennis ultimately prevailed in Barcelona by a margin of 45 points, ahead of Nataliya Dobrynska, the Olympic champion from the Ukraine.

Minichiello said: "We have always made decisions based on what is best for Jess and also how best to improve her performance going forward, particularly with London 2012 on the horizon. I have chatted to the wider team who work with Jess and we all feel a full debrief and analysis of the season – and for her to recover fully – is more important than chasing races."