"I jump into a sand pit for a living"
Unbelievable
Return to the book list for this category.
Jessica Ennis, London, Hodder and Stoughton, 2012. ISBN 978 1 444 76860 2
The book is a good memoir of Jess’s amazing career. It documents her journey from the moment she discovered athletics at a Startrack camp in 1996 to her 2012 Olympic gold medal. The text is supported by 36 pages of colour photos of life and athletics.
The book gives fascinating insights into the life of the elite athlete – her training, competition, how he gets balance in her life, the various members of Team Ennis and why she never pees before 7.00am.
The story of the injury that deprived her of the chance to compete in the 2008 Olympics is poignantly told. Her accounts of winning and losing World titles and European titles are told in detail, reminding the read of the roller-coaster ride to ultimate triumph.
There are some amusing family stories like the Christmas her fiancé danced on the living-room table only to fall head first into the Christmas tree. As Homer Simpson would say, “Just a normal family”.
The love-hate relationship with Chell – coach Toni Minchiello – is a running motiv in the book. It is portrayed warts and all - the arguments, the tantrums, his wind-up lines, the fall-outs are balanced with the acknowledgement that “he gets the best out of me”.
An easy and a thoroughly enjoyable read.