Exclusive - Ennis: I won't let myself think about winning gold at London 2012

Jessica Ennis has told talkSPORT she’s refusing to picture herself with a gold medal around her neck at London 2012.

The World and European heptathlon champion is hot favourite to win gold on home soil next year but, having missed the 2008 Olympics in Beijing through injury, the 25-year-old is taking nothing for granted.

“I do think about the Olympics and competing there but I don’t let myself think about what could happen,” she admitted to Keys & Gray.

“I don’t think about having that medal around my neck or anything like that because there’s so much to do in between now and then. I want to make sure I get that all right before I become preoccupied with trying to win that medal.”

A stress fracture to her right ankle ended Ennis’ hopes of Olympic glory last time round and she admits that has given her extra motivation to be successful at the London games.

“Missing the Beijing Olympics was a big disappointment,” said the Sheffield-based athlete. “My next main focus was obviously the world championship the year after, but the Olympics comes round every four years so you spend those four years training hard and putting everything into that one moment at the Olympics.

“And obviously being a home Olympics is more important and you want to put in that extra time so it’s been a long time training, working hard and preparing for it.”