Jessica Ennis-Hill

Olympic champion and three-times world champion heptathlete, Jessica Ennis-Hill is one of Great Britain’s most successful athletes.

Born on 28th January, 1986, Jessica Ennis-Hill is the eldest child of Vinnie and Alison. She has a younger sister, Carmel and was raised in Sheffield, a city famed for steel and sport in the heart of South Yorkshire, England. Early school experiences provided her a taste of sporting competition and opportunities that would start her on the path to athletics. It’s also where she met her future husband, Andy Hill.

Outside of school, Ennis-Hill’s sporting journey began earnestly. During school holidays, she and her sister attended local athletics camps. At the age of 13 at one of those camps, she was introduced to Toni Minichiello, who would become her lifelong coach. Shortly after their first meeting, Ennis-Hill joined the City of Sheffield Athletics Club, which she represented until her retirement in 2016.

Ennis-Hill progressed through junior and youth competitions with great success. She participated in the World Youth Games, World Junior Championships, Commonwealth Youth Games, and European Athletics Junior Championships, winning medals on an international stage before she turned 18. After leaving school, she was accepted into The University of Sheffield to study Psychology, balancing her studies with her burgeoning athletics career. After winning a bronze medal at the 2005 Commonwealth Games, she graduated from university and embarked on her professional athletics career.

In 2009, Ennis-Hill won her first heptathlon gold medal at the World Championships. This marked the beginning of a period of sustained success, including two more World titles and the European crown. Her most memorable achievement came at the 2012 Olympics in London, where she became the Olympic heptathlon champion, achieving a personal best score of 6955 points.

Ennis-Hill was awarded an MBE for her services to sport. Her personal life flourished as well; she married Andy Hill in 2013 and gave birth to their son, Reggie, in 2014. Returning to athletics just 15 months later, she won her third consecutive world championship gold medal in Beijing. At the 2016 Rio Olympics, Ennis-Hill earned a silver medal in heptathlon, which marked the culmination of her competitive athletics career.

After retiring in 2016, Jessica Ennis-Hill was honored with a Damehood. She continues to live in Sheffield, engaging in charity work, including her roles as a patron of the Sheffield Children’s Hospital and supporting the sports foundation of businessman Barrie Wells. She also serves as an Ambassador for the Jaguar Academy of Sport and writes a column for The Times newspaper. In addition to her charity work, she has written a children’s book series titled ‘Evie's Magic Bracelet’ with co-author Elen Coldecott and launched her fitness app, Jennis, aimed at providing tailored fitness and health advice.

Her enduring legacy in athletics, coupled with her dedication to charity and wellness advocacy, underscores her role as a prominent figure in sports and community service.