When many assumed she wouldn’t return to this year’s Olympic Games after having a baby, Jessica Ennis knew she had something to prove heading to Rio.

 

After giving birth to her son Reggie in 2014, many wrote the athlete out for this year’s games but she silenced the nay-sayers when she won a silver medal in the heptathlon on Sunday.

 

 

But it wasn’t an easy journey, the 30-year-old mum struggled to get performance ready after having her son and says she underestimated the toll it would take on her body.

 

“When you have your first child and you’re pregnant, most mums don’t really think about how much their body will change,” Jessica told The Telegraph.

 

“I could never have imagined how hard it would be.

 

“You think 'I’ll have a baby, it’ll be fine and he’ll just lie there quietly while I train’.

 

“But it’s never like that.”

 

 

Getting physically prepared was a challenge for the new mum but she said her athletic background definitely helped.

 

“It doesn’t happen overnight. I was an athlete before I had Reggie so my body did get back quicker than your average woman.”

 

 

And it begins again.... #pain

A photo posted by Jessica Ennis-Hill (@jessicaennishill) on

 

But Jessica said that the pressure for her and other mums to get their pre-baby body back is ridiculous and unrealistic.

 

“It’s important for women to know you don’t have to get back to your tiny figure or whatever you were before in a matter of weeks.”

 

“My body is my job so I had to get back. But it’s whatever makes you happy, and your first priority is your baby at that time.”

 

 

And after retaining a medal at this years heptathlon on Sunday, Jessica is excited to get home and show little Reggie her latest Olympic silverware.

 

“Being away from Reggie is one of the hardest things. I just want to give him a massive hug. I can’t wait to get home and show him this medal.”

 

 

SHARE if you have major respect for Jessica.

Latest

Trending