Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill

Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill is one of Britain’s most celebrated athletes, a three-time World Champion and Olympic gold medallist whose heptathlon triumph at the London 2012 Olympic Games captured the nation’s heart. Widely regarded as the face of the 2012 Games, she set the British national record in the heptathlon and became a symbol of excellence, resilience and determination. Her achievements earned her numerous honours, including the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award and appointment as Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in recognition of her services to athletics. Today, she continues to inspire as a BBC commentator, entrepreneur and advocate for women’s health and performance.

Jessica’s athletic journey began at a young age in Sheffield, where her talent and work ethic quickly marked her as one to watch. She rose through the junior ranks, winning gold at the 2005 European Athletics Junior Championships before making her senior breakthrough at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Over the next decade, she dominated the world stage, winning World Championship titles in Berlin (2009), Daegu (2011) and Beijing (2015), as well as the European gold in 2010 and the World Indoor pentathlon title in Doha. Her crowning moment came at the London 2012 Olympics, where she delivered an unforgettable performance to claim gold in front of a home crowd.

After taking time away from competition to become a mother, Jessica made a remarkable return to elite sport in 2015, winning her third World Championship gold in Beijing. The following year, she added a silver medal at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and was later retrospectively awarded gold for the 2011 World Championships. Her career stands as one of sustained excellence, resilience and grace under pressure, establishing her as one of the greatest heptathletes in history.

Since retiring from competition, Jessica has built a portfolio career that continues to empower others. She co-founded Jennis, a digital fitness and wellbeing platform designed to support women’s health through every life stage, and she shares her insight as a BBC commentator, including at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Through her autobiography ‘Unbelievable: From My Childhood Dreams to Winning Olympic Gold’, keynote speaking and media work, Jessica inspires audiences with her story of perseverance, balance and belief, proving that true greatness extends beyond the podium.