Ankle injury destroys Ennis's debut dream

British heptathlete Jessica Ennis is today coming to terms with missing out on a first Olympic Games after a stress fracture to her right ankle wrecked her hopes of competing in Beijing.

The 22-year-old Commonwealth bronze medallist pulled out of an IAAF meeting in Austria at the weekend with the problem and a subsequent scan revealed the extent of the injury.

"I'm upset with the results and I'm gutted to be missing out on my first Olympics but injury is part of life as a heptathlete," said Ennis.

"I am determined to make a full and speedy recovery from this and enjoy a long athletics career."

UK Athletics performance director Dave Collins said: "This is nothing but terrible luck and is a sickening blow for Jess. Obviously with the Olympic Games just a matter of weeks away, the timing could not have been more cruel.

"I have every confidence that Jess possesses the physical ability, talent and mental toughness to move on from this and look forward to a long and successful career in the sport. We are all gutted for her."