Olympic heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis-Hill will miss the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow because she is pregnant.
The 27-year-old Briton is expecting her first baby with husband Andy, but still plans to defend her Olympic gold medal at the 2016 Rio Games.
“I am sorry I won’t be in Glasgow for the Commonwealth Games,” she said.
“But I know it will be an amazing occasion. I will be at home awaiting the arrival of a little Ennis-Hill.”
England’s Ennis-Hill won bronze at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne and chose to skip the 2010 Games in Delhi to concentrate on the European Championships the same year, where she won gold.
The 2009 world champion, who got married in May 2013 , added: “We are completely overwhelmed, with excitement and a degree of anxiety that I am sure all first time parents will relate to.
“My plans for 2014 have been completely turned upside down, but having had a couple of weeks to think about things from a career point of view I am 100% set on returning to full time athletics once our baby is born and go for a second gold medal at the Rio Olympics in 2016 – that challenge really excites me.
“But in the short term I will make our baby a priority and enjoy the whole experience as much as possible.”
Despite suffering a disappointing 2013 season where she missed the World Championships because of an Achilles tendon problem, London Olympics champion Ennis-Hill was favourite for gold in Glasgow.
David Grevemberg, chief executive of Glasgow 2014 said: “I would like to warmly congratulate both Jessica and her husband Andy on the news that they are expecting their first child.
“Glasgow 2014 is proud to have Jessica as an inspiring Ambassador for the Games and appreciate her continued support for the world-class festival of sport which Glasgow and Scotland will host this summer.”
BBC SPORT
