Rio Olympics 2016: Jessica Ennis-Hill’s big rival Brianne Theisen-Eaton hails Brit’s ability under pressure and tips her to match London 2012 gold form
Canadian world record-holder admits champ has 'wow' factor
JESSICA ENNIS-HILL'S big rival for gold admits she envies how the Olympic champion copes under pressure.
And Brianne Theisen-Eaton, who crumbled with the weight of expectation as favourite last summer and had to settle for world silver behind the British star, believes Ennis-Hill can reach new heights in Rio.
Ennis-Hill launches her bid to become the first British woman to win back-to-back Olympic track titles with the 100m hurdles tomorrow morning — the start of the gruelling two-day heptathlon.
Her mark of 6669 points set in Germany in June has only been bettered by Theisen-Eaton, who scored a world-leading 6765 points in winning the Hypo Meeting heptathlon at Gotzis, Austria, in May.
But the Canadian, who went into the world championships in Beijing last summer again ranked No 1 on the planet, said: “I’d never gone into a major championship as favourite before.
"What was interesting was realising the pressure that was on Jess going into London 2012. You can never imagine what that feels like until you are in it.
“I’m not saying the pressure I had in Beijing was anything like Jess had, but that’s what opened my eyes to think ‘Wow — she is impressive’.”
Sheffield’s Ennis-Hill set a personal best of 6995 points en route to the Olympic crown in London and Theisen-Eaton believes she can come close to that again in Rio on Saturday.
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She added: “Never underestimate her. It didn’t surprise me that she came back (after having a baby) to win in Beijing.
“A lot of people in 2015 said ‘Well she had that performance in London and won’t be able to get back to the same form’ . . . but I never counted her out.
“That’s why going into Beijing I thought I had to do something amazing. I knew she would be in top form.
“She and her coach are very smart and know how to train to win. I think she can score 6900 or 7000 points in Rio again — she is that good.”