Friday 25 March 2016 12:29, UK
Jessica Ennis-Hill insists she is confident she will be ready to defend her Olympic title, despite recently returning to training following an Achilles injury.
The reigning Olympic and world heptathlon champion sustained the injury nearly two months ago, and subsequently missed the indoor season.
Ennis-Hill has revealed that she is still unsure when she will be able to return to full training, but remains hopeful she can complete a full summer programme.
"It's definitely improving. I'm just easing back into training and taking everything really slowly," she said.
"I've been plagued with Achilles injuries in recent years and it has been frustrating but it's something I have to deal with and hope that myself and the team around me can make sure it's right for the summer.
"The only positive is that I picked up this injury relatively early in the year so it's given us a bit more time and flexibility to get it right.
"If it was a couple of months out from the Olympics it would have been a different story, but hopefully we can get it right for Rio."
Despite the setbacks, the 30-year old says she thinks back to her achievements last summer.
I don't have many years left competing so you have to make the most of these great opportunities. Fingers crossed I get to Rio, and that will be my last Olympics so I really want to make it worthwhile.
Just a year after giving birth to her son Reggie, Ennis-Hill made a late call to go to the World Championships, and ended up leaving with a gold medal.
"It definitely gave me confidence knowing I can do a relatively small amount of training and have setbacks and injuries but still come out and compete well," she added.
"It's definitely one of my proudest moments to have stepped away from my sport for that amount of time and come back and become world champion.
"Lots of things have changed since the last Olympics. Training's very different and obviously my mindset's very different but that drive and determination is very much there.
"I don't have many years left competing so you have to make the most of these great opportunities. Fingers crossed I get to Rio, and that will be my last Olympics so I really want to make it worthwhile."
Reggie will be two by the time Rio comes round, and Ennis-Hill is ready to put aside concerns about the Zika virus and take him to Rio.
She said: "I'd love him to be there so fingers crossed I can be there and he can watch me.
"I've definitely got concerns. It's still very much all in the air at the moment and things are developing and changing constantly. I'm getting as much information as I can so I know what the situation is before I head out there and take my son out there."
