You show support to heartbroken Jess

MESSAGES of support have flooded in for Bromsgrove’s Jess Varnish after her Olympic heartbreak.

The 21-year-old missed out on competing for a gold medal after being disqualified along with partner Victoria Pendleton from the team sprint for overtaking too early.

It brought a premature end to her Games and a distraught Jess was too upset to speak to the media after the ruling last Thursday (August 2) but later tweeted: “Gave it all I had it wasn’t meant to be. Thank you everyone for all the messages it makes me feel so much better.”

She revealed later while she had no issue with the decision, she did not intend to ever watch the video of the race.

“It would just break my heart,” she said.

“I’m devastated but you must have rules and regulations in sport and we broke them no matter how much it hurts me to say that.”

But despite the disappointment it has done nothing to dampen Bromsgrove’s love for the cycling star.

Paul Topping, headteacher at South Bromsgrove High School where Jess was a pupil, said: “Jess and Victoria were so brilliant in the heats with a world record.

“Jess is an absolute legend at South and a real inspiration to our developing sportsmen and sportswomen. We know she’ll bounce back from the disappointment.”

Commenting on the Standard’s Facebook page Helen Coleman said: “At least she tried her best. I have no doubt she feels far worse than we can even imagine.”

Kath Williams added: “Well done Jess in breaking the Olympic Record anyway. You did GB and Bromsgrove proud.”

Jon Taylor wrote: “She will win plenty more medals before Rio 2016, where, she will win the Olympic Gold she deserves, I am sure.”

Emma Scully added the town should be doing more to celebrate the fact someone from Bromsgrove had achieved such success.”

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