JESSICA Ennis may have shown a stiff upper lip after a broken foot ruled her out of the Beijing Olympics.
But underneath that public exterior, she will have been devastated that she will not now join other Great Britain elite athletes in August's showpiece Games.
So says the chairman of her City of Sheffield AC club, Mike Corden.
Ennis publicly stated that while she had been "gutted" by the injury, she comforted herself that injuries routinely happen to heptathletes and that she had a long career ahead of her.
Corden said: "Jess is one of the top athletes in the world so it is impossible to put into words exactly how she must have felt at losing this opportunity.
"It's interesting that she used the word 'gutted' like they do in football. And I think she stood such a strong chance of winning a gold medal it is fair to compare this to a football team which has not only qualified for the World Cup or European Championships but was capable of winning it.
"With Carolina Kluft (the Olympic champion) out of the heptathlon, this was Jess' big chance to reach the pinnacle.
"But Jess is not a whingey-whiney type and won't have wanted to come across like that.
"She may have shed a tear on her own because this is something that would destroy some people. It's a killer.
"But she is 22, not 34 like Paula Radcliffe. She will have condensed her 'sporting grief' with the knowledge that she is of an age where she can come back.
"Jess is professional in every sense of the word" commented Corden, adding it would not do Ennis any good to dwell on the bitter disappointment of missing the greatest sports show on earth,
The Sheffield chairman said his organisation would miss out on the reflected glory of Ennis taking part in the tournament which would have represented invaluable publicity for a sport which struggles to attract young female athletes.
But he paid tribute to Ennis's background and spirit.
"She has been a top class junior, intermediate and senior at our club yet never played up like a 'super-star.'
She has always been prepared to take part in Northern League events, for instance, which is like a Premier League footballer turning out for the Sunday morning park team.
"She has been a loyal supporter and ambassador for this club and brings a wealth of experience to lot of young athletes."
'Don't make us scapegoat for Jessica injury' - city athletics club fears GB backlash What do you think? Post your comments below. READ MOREFootball headlinesMore BladesMore OwlsMore SpireitesMore RoversMore RedsMore MillersMore Ice HockeyMore rugby leagueMore rugby unionMore boxingSports columnistsAll sport categoriesThe full article contains 467 words and appears in Sheffield Star newspaper.
