JESSICA ENNIS-HILL RETIRES: 7 things you might not know about Sheffield's golden girl

As Sheffield's Jessica Ennis-Hill announces her retirement from athletics, here's a feast of facts you might not know about the Sheffield golden girl.
Jessica Ennis-Hill is retiring from athletics.Jessica Ennis-Hill is retiring from athletics.
Jessica Ennis-Hill is retiring from athletics.

The London 2012 heptathlon gold medallist, who also claimed silver at this year's Olympic Games in Rio, has enjoyed a glittering career - are are some of the highlights.

1 If she had won gold in Rio de Janeiro, she would have become just the third athlete to have a baby and retain an Olympic title over the space of a four-year cycle. The other two were Australian hurdler/sprinter Shirley Strickland (1952-1956) and Cameroonian triple-jumper Francoise Mbango Etone (2004-2008).

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

2 Ennis-Hill has been coached by Toni Minichiello since she was 13.

3 Ennis-Hill graduated with a psychology degree from the University of Sheffield in 2007.

4 Born and bred in Sheffield, she still lives in the city with husband - childhood sweetheart Andy - son Reggie and a chocolate labrador, Myla.

5 Ennis-Hill is a fan of Star Wars and has compared herself to Rey, the female lead protagonist in recently released The Force Awakens.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

6 When coming through the ranks, Olympic bronze medallist Kelly Sotherton gave her the nickname ‘tadpole’ because of her diminutive size and age. She is now five feet five inches tall.

7 To celebrate Ennis-Hill’s Olympic success, League One side Sheffield United renamed one of the Bramall Lane stands after her.