• London Olympics 2012

Ennis blessed with same hunger as Becks & Wilkinson

Toni Minichiello expects Jessica Ennis to rise to the occasion © PA Photos

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Bolt allays fitness concerns on eve of London 2012
  
• Profile: Jessica Ennis-Hill

London 2012: Full schedule

Jessica Ennis' coach believes the heptathlete has the same ability to rise to the challenge as David Beckham and Jonny Wilkinson - a quality that will take her to London 2012 gold.

Ennis is one of the brightest Team GB hopes for a track and field gold medal, and coach Toni Minichiello is adamant the Sheffield native has an inner determination and steely resolve that will come to the fore when the competition reaches a do-or-die situation.

"Think Beckham against Greece," Minichiello told the Mirror. "Last kick, goal needed for England to qualify for World Cup. Bang, thank you very much.

"Think Wilkinson against Australia in 2003. One chance to win the Rugby World Cup final. Right... okay... bang.

"There are only a handful of sports people who can rise to a challenge at times of extreme pressure. Who say to themselves, 'Right, I need to do something here'. And they do. Jessica is one of those.

"Like Beckham and Wilkinson, Jess has that ability to say 'Alright, let's go' and crank it up to beyond the capacity of others. Whether it's nature or nurture I really don't know."

Wilkinson has actually spent time with Ennis, admitting that he immediately sensed that she shared the same competitive hunger as him.

"It was the first thing I picked up on - a sense that with her, as with me, it's not just sport. It's more," Wilkinson said. "There's a choice involved because it's something you love doing and something you know you live to do. But there's also no choice in that it's too important."

He added: "The one thing that helps you go crazy with it, and rise to that level, is the fact it means that much.

"It isn't about waking up as a different person and trying to go through a process of converting yourself into a person capable of dealing with that situation.

"You wake up and you're already at the same level as the pressure, if not more, because it's too important - something greater than just a choice to play sport. It means everything to you. It's been in your blood for as long as you can remember. It's part of your being."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.