Success stories of athletes inspire children and adults, giving faith in their own strength. A famous athlete from Great Britain Jessica Ennis-Hill is one of the most successful retired track and field athletes, all-rounder and a symbol of courage, perseverance and endurance. Learn more at londonka.
The life of an Olympic champion isn’t easy because a sports career is full of obstacles. Jessica Ennis-Hill is a role model for many Britons who dream of professional success.
Childhood and youth
Jessica Ennis-Hill was born in Sheffield in 1986. She became acquainted with athletics at a Start:Track competition at the Don Valley Stadium during the summer holidays in 1996. While attending sports camps at the age of 13, she met Tony Minichiello, who later became her coach. After her first training with him, Jessica joined Sheffield’s athletics club.
Everyone saw the girl’s sporting talent because she successfully won competitions among juniors and youth. The athlete participated in the World Youth Championships, the World Junior Championships, the Commonwealth Youth Games and the European Junior Athletics Championships. Jessica managed to win medals and a name on the international stage even before she became an adult. Thus, the woman attracted the attention of famous sports experts.
The athlete was engaged not only in athletics but had the most significant achievements in this sphere. Jessica’s big victory as an adult athlete took place in February 2004, when she was already 18 years old. She won the 60-meter hurdles at the North Senior Indoor Championships, clocking 8.60 seconds. There were other 60-meter victories after that. Jessica’s first international competition was the 2005 Summer Universiade in Turkey. Then she won a bronze medal in the heptathlon.
Victory at the London Olympics
Jessica Ennis-Hill’s biggest achievement came in 2009 when she won the gold medal in the heptathlon at the World Championships. The success was followed by two world and European titles. However, Jessica entered sporting history at the 2012 London Olympics. It has been a bright event for London and the whole of Great Britain and a moment of triumph for Jessica’s fans.
Jessica competed in the heptathlon, which is considered the most difficult discipline in athletics. She understood that she had to do her best because millions of Britons had their hopes on her. In the end, the woman became the Olympic champion and won the gold medal, scoring 6955 points. It was her golden hour.
After the victory, she attracted a lot of attention from journalists. Jessica Ennis-Hill was appointed MBE for her services to sport. Then she experienced another great moment in her life. In 2013, she got married and a year later gave birth to a son. After that, the woman returned to sports, but many doubted whether she would manage to return to the same form.
End of sports career
In 2016, Jessica Ennis-Hill won a silver medal at the Rio Olympics and announced the end of her sports career. She was appointed Dame Commander, an honorary title awarded for great achievements in sports. Today, the woman is an active public figure because she is engaged in charity, helps young athletes, works on TV and is an ambassador for major sports organisations.
London is a very symbolic place in Jessica Ennis-Hill’s career. After the Olympics, she achieved popularity among Londoners and the city became the celebration centre of her victory. The woman often appears at various events, so she is known to absolutely all residents of the metropolis.