Ennis-Hill gets silver, nearly certain about retiring

The event is the Liverpool athlete’s weakest by far, but this was still a well below-par performance.

Rimmer is chasing a final place and said: “I’ve never got to a global final and I think if I finish my career without that happening it would be a waste of talent”. It’s like, have you still got stuff in the basement?’

“I’m going to get home and see Reggie and (husband) Andy and have a holiday, a break and switch off and relax, I can’t wait”.

A solid shot kept her well placed and a 200m of 23.49, second-best on the night, left her in the lead on 4,057 points.

Ennis-Hill celebrated her medal with a glass of champagne at the Olympic Village after arriving back at around 3am. “It’s celebrations not commiserations, ‘ she said”.

While she will undoubtedly be disappointed not to have defended her title, Ennis-Hill’s name will remain etched in Olympic history following her triumphant 2012 win.

Becky James will be hoping for a similar story in the women’s keirin while Jason Kenny continues his quest for a second Olympic gold of the Games in Rio and fifth of his career in the men’s sprint but he will face serious competition from his teammate Callum Skinner.

“I’ve always said that I want to give as much as I can, but so many athletes agonise about the best time to retire”.

The action resumes in the evening session with the shot and 200m.

“I don’t really know to be honest (about the next chapter)”, said Ennis-Hill, 30.

She might decide to focus all her training on her two best events, the 100m hurdles and long jump.

“The decision is made harder with the fact there is London [2017 World Athletics Championships]”.

It seems likely that Rio will mark the end of Ennis-Hill’s career at global level.

But she just wasn’t quite able to hit the highest notes enough, her long jump of 6.34m and javelin of 46.06 on the second day being good but not exceptional. I just did everything I could over those seven events over two days and it wasn’t quite enough for the gold medal.

It was not the walk off into the sunset that she would have wanted but Jessica Ennis-Hill admits that retirement is the likeliest outcome after her Olympic silver medal in Rio on Saturday night.

Ennis-Hill of Great Britain finished second with 6,775 points while Canada’s Brianne Thiesen Eaton won bronze with 6,653 points.

“I think it’s been really tough for Kat”, said Ennis-Hill.

“She has got so much potential and physically she’s incredible, but she’s got the throws that are weak and that needs addressing”.

World number 34 Monica Puig has guaranteed their ninth overall by reaching the final of the women’s singles, but she will be aiming for their first gold on Centre Court.