<p>The 27-year-old world recordholder and three time outdoor world champion said she had been reflecting on whether to take a break or not."I have been thinking over this very carefully the last three weeks and now come to the conclusion that a break from competing is absolutely necessary for me," she said in a statement yesterday.<br /><br />"After more than eight years of very hard training and competing at the highest levels both indoors and outdoors each year I need to step back in order for my body to properly recover.<br /><br />"It is my full intention to continue training and keep myself fit. At this moment I cannot exactly say when I will return to competitions."I have not completely ruled out the entire summer circuit or the European Championships in Barcelona," added the four-time world indoor champion, who has taken the event onto another sphere.<br />"Nothing has changed with my long term goals which includes the 2011 and 2013 World Championships and the Olympic Gold in London 2012."</p>
<p>The 27-year-old world recordholder and three time outdoor world champion said she had been reflecting on whether to take a break or not."I have been thinking over this very carefully the last three weeks and now come to the conclusion that a break from competing is absolutely necessary for me," she said in a statement yesterday.<br /><br />"After more than eight years of very hard training and competing at the highest levels both indoors and outdoors each year I need to step back in order for my body to properly recover.<br /><br />"It is my full intention to continue training and keep myself fit. At this moment I cannot exactly say when I will return to competitions."I have not completely ruled out the entire summer circuit or the European Championships in Barcelona," added the four-time world indoor champion, who has taken the event onto another sphere.<br />"Nothing has changed with my long term goals which includes the 2011 and 2013 World Championships and the Olympic Gold in London 2012."</p>