No 100m hurdles for Ennis

Ennis, dubbed the “face of the Games” in the build up to the London Olympics, emphatically won the heptathlon, beating nearest rival Lilli Schwarzkopf by over 300 points and setting a new lifetime best of 6955 points.

Only four other heptathletes have ever scored more points than Ennis’s haul in these Games – American world record holder Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Sweden's Carolina Kluft and Russian Larisa Turchinskay.

And there was speculation Ennis would compete in the 100m hurdles after she stormed down the track in 12.54 seconds - the fastest ever time for a heptathlete in the opening discipline.

That time would have won Ennis gold in the individual 100m hurdles at the Beijing Olympics four years ago, American Dawn Harper triumphing in the same time of 12.54s in the Birds Nest Stadium.

But Ennis told the BBC that she would not be competing in the individual event, instead wanting to give her body a rest after a gruelling seven events in two days.

"I did think about it, especially after my display in the hurdles," she said. "But for me it was just about the heptathlon. I'm more than happy coming away with this medal.

"Right now it is just to enjoy this moment for as long as I can.

"I want to spend some time with my family and then just have a bit of a break. It has been such a long build-up and stressful. I am looking forward to relaxing."

The 100m hurdles get underway at 10:05am on Monday morning with the opening heats before the semi-finals and final on Tuesday night.