My topic of discussion is quite a bizarre one this week. It was revealed this week, that a senior member of UK Athletics told Jessica Ennis she was too fat to compete successfully. Now, I am sure you are all aware of what Miss Ennis looks like, because she is the poster-girl for the athletics this summer. But here is a little reminder:
Now I struggle severely to note any fat on this athlete, let alone be able to consider her excessively overweight. She currently weighs 8st 13b. It is a ridiculous statement for this official to come out with, and one that not only ridicules his association but could also act as a demotivater for a genuine medal prospect. Ennis clearly wants to win and is undertaking a thorough training regime to ensure this is the case, yet her hard-work is clearly not being appreciated as those who you would be expectant of providing their full-support are failing to do so.
Ennis has laughed off the claims publicly, providing a very professional approach to it all, and hopefully, some common sense! However, you do wonder whether she does hold the same views as her team-mate, Louise Hazel, who has revealed that she too experienced such comments first-hand, and felt an air of despondency because of them. She also raised the key issue of how discussions of weight are extremely serious amongst young girls, whether they are athletes or not. I think this is a particularly valid point. We live in a world nowadays where the media have an extremely strong influence on our perceptions of what is considered ‘normal’. Through citing multiple stories of an ‘obesity crisis’, people now see the slim, slender physique as the ideal one to possess. However, this news article proves that even those who illustrate this idealistic look already are subject to criticism. What is the pathway for them? Most likely an eating disorder as the move to anorexia becomes more serious and likely. We already know the shocking stories and health detriments of being anorexic, so why are there people out there who appear to be pushing individuals towards it? British triathlete, Hollie Avil, recently retired from the sport because she was suffering such a problem following comments made by a coach.
Further to this, I reckon I could put strong money on the individual at UK Athletics who has opened this can of words being considered fat based on his definition, in other words, bigger than Jessica Ennis. Now in my opinion, you should always concern yourself with your own problems and issues before you start criticising others. So maybe the individual in question should participate alongside Ennis at one of her training sessions. I think it would result in a very amusing conclusion and further embarrassment for the high-ranking official. Additionally, surely if there were concerns over Ennis’ weight they should have been cited a year or so ago, not just a couple of months before the Games commence. It is too late now to do anything significant, so all words offered to the athletes need to be positive, support messages, so that they feel confident and at ease when they step out to perform. Let us toughen our athletes up psychologically, with the determination that they are able to compete with the rest of the world’s best and make their country, as well as themselves, proud.
Thankfully, the “distraction”, as her coach put it, appears to have bypassed Ennis. This weekend she managed to achieve a new British record for the heptathlon in her final major competition before London 2012. She finished 132 points ahead of her nearest competitor, which was a field full of participants she will be up against this summer. Psychologically on two fronts then, this week has been huge for the Sheffield athlete. She has demonstrated she is confident within herself, even if external members have less confidence in her; whilst her talents are continually improving as she has held onto the lead in this competition, setting two new personal best’s and equalling another. As part of the opening weekend of the athletics, Ennis is the prime contender to boost British hopes and spirits to aspire above and beyond what is expected of them within the stadium and bring home many glorious medals.
To summarise, I think this news story is pretty shocking and disgraceful and certainly one that wasn’t necessary to aid British preparations in the lead-up to the Olympics. If ever there was a case of needing to think before you speak, this is a pretty good example! I think that the lack of comments to emerge from UK Athletics since the story broke as well, is also pretty damning and confirming that firstly the comments were made, and secondly, they have embarrassed themselves and lost a lot of credibility amongst many other stakeholders associated to the sport. Athletics supporters, and even general sporting fans, are clearly going to side with Ennis, when they are all very much aware of the look she possesses. She is a poster-girl for a reason and a popular member of the team for her talents. I think 99.9% of the population would not have any issue with her look and body physique! There have been some positives from the emergence of this story though. The first of course, is the performance Ennis put on this weekend, which is surely going to prepare her suitably for London. The second is the media’s portrayal of it all, who have appeared to have sided with the consensus and consider the news to be ridiculous. This is a positive sign, and one that may not necessarily have been utilised, because of the media’s perception that the ideal look needs to be slim, slim, slim. Common sense has prevailed by looking at Ennis and understanding she is at the peak of her physical appearance. Fat, overweight and heavy are certainly not adjectives that fit her look...
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