Jessica Ennis-Hill backs Britain’s Golden Girls Asher-Smith and Johnson-Thompson to get over Olympics’ coronavirus delay
DAME Jessica Ennis-Hill says Britain’s Golden Girls are strong enough to cope with the Olympics being put back.
Reigning world champions Dina Asher-Smith and Katarina Johnson-Thompson have had to change their training campaigns after Tokyo 2020 was postponed for 12 months.
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But Ennis-Hill, the London 2012 Olympic heptathlon champ, is convinced they will be ready for the Tokyo Games in 2021.
Ennis-Hill, 34, said: “Dina and Kat are both great athletes with a lot of experience of dealing with the ups and downs.
“We all have setbacks and injuries at times and have to be resilient and bounce back.
“I’ve no doubt at all they are both keeping a clear mind and finding ways to train to their best ability. Athletes all over the world are in similar situations.
“It’ll definitely be those who are able to maintain a calm and focused approach to the current challenges who will come out of this stronger and ready to resume normal training.
“I’ve no doubt Dina and Kat will be ready and at their best for Tokyo 2021.”
The IOC and Tokyo bosses were heavily criticised for stalling the decision to postpone the Games while other global sporting events were being cancelled.
Organising committee CEO Toshiro Muto admitted last week the Games could be moved again if the coronavirus crisis is not resolved by 2021.
Ennis-Hill said: “There will be a big mental adjustment as well as a practical change to training plans. All athletes will have geared their training for four years towards the next Olympics — it’s our pinnacle in track and field.
“With training being disrupted with Covid-19 and then uncertainty over Tokyo 2020, it must have been pretty tough both emotionally and physically to prepare.
“Now athletes need to completely change their training and competition plans and dig deep and turn to their coaches to create a new 18-month plan.
“Most athletes knew the Tokyo Games postponement was inevitable as soon as Covid-19 was declared a global pandemic.
“The not knowing initially was tough. At least now all athletes have a date to work towards.
“It’s really too early to make calls on what a training plan will look like for a summer 2021 Games.
“I imagine all coaches are creating Plan A and Plan B scenarios. One that works on the basis that life will return to a semblance of normal by autumn and one that means athletes will have to remain very local for training.
“I’d imagine, like all of us, athletes and coaches are taking things week-to-week and adapting as best they can to the advice and regulations.”
Asher-Smith won the world 200m crown last October in Qatar — the first global sprint title by a British woman at an athletics world championships.
The 24-year-old will go for a hat-trick of medals next year in the Japanese capital.
Vitality ambassador Ennis-Hill said: “Dina is super talented and really made her intentions on the world stage clear at those championships.
“She will just get better and better — she is still so young. I very much hope she will be on the Olympic medal podium. Sprinting is very competitive but she’s up there with the best.
“Dina is really level-headed and has a great team, a really close-knit group looking after her.
“She is super smart, too. I know she’ll remain focused on the big prize.”
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Johnson-Thompson, 27, produced arguably the best display at the last worlds, beating her nemesis Nafi Thiam from Belgium and breaking Ennis-Hill’s British heptathlon record from 2012.
Sheffield star Ennis-Hill added: “Kat will want to remain in the No 1 spot. And if she can go to Tokyo injury-free with a good winter’s training under her belt, I’m sure she’ll be really competitive.
“Kat will not worry about her competition — all her focus will be on her own training and how she competes.”
Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill is involved in Vitality’s new Instagram wellness series, Vitality At Home.
The series, involving Jonny Wilkinson, Jos Buttler and Joe Root, sees video content posted daily on @vitality_uk to support members – and the wider British public – to stay active and healthy.
Search for #StayHealthyAtHome or visit instagram.com/vitality_uk.
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