How the Steel City has produced some of the greatest athletes in the world

Sheffield can now boast five of the biggest sporting names on the planet.
Danny WillettDanny Willett
Danny Willett

The city has long boxed above its weight when it comes to competing with larger cities across the globe.

But the astonishing sight of Danny Willett winning the US Masters at Augusta National has thrown into sharper focus the remarkable impact the city sport is currently having on the worldwide stage.

Jessica Ennis-HillJessica Ennis-Hill
Jessica Ennis-Hill
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The 28-year-old - who once came 12th when he “played” the course on a simulator at Doncaster Golf Range - became only the second Englishman to wear the green jacket, following his memorable victory. Willett, ofcourse, is in good company locally - there must have been something in the water in South Yorkshire in the mid ‘80s to ‘90s as we have witnessed the blossoming of some world-beating talent.

There’s heptathlete Jessica Ennis-Hill, 30, who stole all our hearts at the London Olympics in 2012 and came back from ‘maternity leave’ to win the world championships.

Jamie Vardy, 29, who started his football career in Stocksbridge Park Steels youth system, is leading his Leicester City team towards the Premier League title.

Kell Brook, 29, has been IBF world boxing at welterweight since August 2014 and is hoping for a blockbuster unification bout this Summer.

Yorkshire CC’s Joe Root is the youngest of the bunch at 25 - the Ashes winner is the No. 2 ranked batsman in Test cricket.

So who will be the next superstar to roll off Sheffield’s production line?