Heptathlete Jessica Ennis is coming to terms with missing out on a first Olympic Games appearance after a stress fracture wrecked her hopes of competing in Beijing.

Ennis had rushed back to London after withdrawing following the opening day's action at the IAAF World Challenge Hypo Meeting in Gotzis on Saturday when she felt a problem in her right ankle.

The Commonwealth bronze medallist underwent CT and MRI scans at the Olympic Medical Institute yesterday and after a wait of a few hours received the bad news her hopes of medalling in China were over.

Ennis was told by specialists there were three stress fractures in her right ankle and it would be impossible for her to recover in time to contest the seven-event discipline, beginning on the opening day of August 15.

"I'm obviously upset with the results and I'm gutted to be missing out on my first Olympics, but injury is part of life as a heptathlete," said Ennis.

But she insisted: "I am determined to make a full and speedy recovery from this and enjoy a long athletics career."

Sheffield-based Ennis is unsure of whether the fractures first occurred in training or early season competitions and is now intending to embark on an immediate rehabilitation programme.

Toni Minichiello, the coach who has developed her into a world class multi-eventer, rushed down to London last night to offer comfort to Ennis.

"I'm deeply, deeply disappointed by what the scans have shown us," said Minichiello, who steered her so successfully through the junior ranks to become a top senior performer.

"There was nothing in Jessica's training or in her PB (personal best) performances that we've seen over the last few weeks to indicate that an injury of this nature was present.

"Jess is still only 22 years old and has a long athletics career that will sadly not include the 2008 Olympics but will include London 2012 and the 2016 Games."

Kelly Sotherton, who only beat Ennis by 41 points for the World Championship bronze medal last summer and missed the Gotzis meeting recovering from a kidney disorder, was one of the first to offer her sympathy.

"I'm utterly speechless," said the 2004 Olympic bronze medallist. "I can't even begin to imagine how Jess must be feeling now - I know that I would be devastated.

"This is a really cruel blow for her and I'm so sorry that she won't be out competing with me in Beijing but she is a strong athlete and I wish her all the very best for a speedy recovery."

UK Athletics performance director Dave Collins, who is already having to come to terms with the possible absence of Paula Radcliffe in the marathon and the definite non-appearance of injured sprinter Mark Lewis-Francis, was shocked by the news.

"This is nothing but terrible luck and is a sickening blow for Jess," said Collins. "Obviously with the Olympic Games just a matter of weeks away, the timing could not have been more cruel.

"I have every confidence that Jess has the physical ability, talent and mental toughness to move on from this and look forward to a long and successful career in the sport. We are all gutted for her."

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