Ask your average British sports fan to think of the London 2012 Olympic Games and name the first athlete who comes to mind, the odds are that most will say Jessica Ennis-Hill. The heptathlete was undoubtedly the ‘face of the Games’, her girl-next-door smile appearing on billboards, television teasers and in countless media interviews for months in the lead up to the event. The only fear was that the pressure might be too much.

But, at her first Games, Ennis-Hill delivered. She took gold with a series of personal bests, finishing a huge 306 points ahead of Lilli Schwarzkopf, the silver medallist from Germany.

Fast forward three years and the picture is very different. Ennis-Hill intends to defend her title at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, but she will arrive in the host city with far less fanfare. And along with being more sheltered from the limelight, the fact that she became a mother to a son, Reggie, last year, means her mentality will be different.

“He has totally changed my life, I love being a mummy,” she told rio2016.com. “I think it has made me a more relaxed athlete as I now have a son to think about so I leave my track worries at the track. I think this helps a lot.

“There will definitely not be as much pressure on me this time – a home Games adds a lot of pressure on the athletes. And Rio will be different as it will be my second Games so it won’t all be new. I just want to go out there and do everything I can to win again.”

Ennis-Hill on her way to a personal best in the 200m in the London 2012 heptathlon (Photo: Getty Images/Shaun Botterill)

It has been said that if Ennis-Hill can retain her title in Rio – by emerging with the highest points tally from the 100m hurdles, 200m, 800m, high jump, long jump, shot put and javelin events – it will be the greatest feat ever achieved by a British athlete. However, the 29-year-old is keen to play down such statements.  

“I am going to give it my best and of course I want to win, but I am not seeking any grand accolades. But winning gold in Rio would be amazing – for me taking a break from my sport has given me the biggest challenge – raising my son and getting back to being my best. Winning would be the icing on the cake.”

Ennis-Hill will compete in this month’s athletics world championships in Beijing, having only returned to action this May. Her decision to travel to China was made after an impressive performance at the Anniversary Games in the London Olympic Stadium in July, when she recorded three season’s bests.

“Things are going really well, my Achilles injury has settled and I am in full training and get faster and stronger by the day,” she said.

Ennis-Hill expects the Rio 2016 Games to have a special atmosphere and believes travelling British fans will add to this. “I think Rio will host a really fun, colourful and lively Games – the Brazilian people really know how to have a good time and I think this will come through in the stadiums,” she said.

“When it is one year to go and the countdown begins, the interest grows. I have just competed in the Olympic Stadium at the Anniversary Games and it was full – the British public have really got behind the Olympians after London. We have the best travelling fans, they are so committed and you will always see plenty of British flags in stadiums all over the world.”

Check out the first interview in this series, with Chad le Clos. Next week we will publish exclusives with India hockey captain Sardar Singh and USA football legend Carli Lloyd.