Sky Academy Sports Scholars reflect on the inspiration of retiring heptathlete Jessica Ennis-Hill
Friday 24 March 2017 11:12, UK
The energy, personality, gutsy performances and glory of Jessica Ennis-Hill have been an inspiration to millions of sport fans and fellow athletes over the last decade.
Silver at the Rio Olympics, added to a pair of world titles and gold at London 2012 in front of her home fans on Super Saturday will live long in the memory for many.
So what made the 30-year-old heptathlete, who announced her retirement on Thursday, so special? Here are the thoughts of some of our Sky Academy Sports Scholars who had the privilege of meeting Jess.
ELISE CHRISTIE, GB speed skater.....
I'm so glad I got to meet Jessica before she retired! She's had an amazing career and has always been such an inspiration to me. She had the robustness to go through injury and learn to jump off her opposite foot.
She helped everything together when most other people would have cracked under the pressure. Plus she came back from having a baby to bring yet another medal home to her family.
I hope one day I can approach my sport with the same relaxed mentality that she did. Cheers to a great career Jess!
MARK ENGLISH, Irish 800m runner.....
Jess had one of those careers some athletes would dream of even achieving half of. She went from winning gold at the worlds in Berlin to winning that magnificent gold in London.
But I think how she came back after having a child to win the world title in Beijing last year and silver in Rio this year really solidified her as one of the best ever.
I had the pleasure of meeting Jess last year in London, along with the other Scholars. She was very humble and giving of her knowledge. I wish her all the best. No doubt she will be missed on the track.
SAM OLDHAM, GB gymnast.....
Jess Ennis is a hero to me and so many others. Not only because she is an incredible sports woman but also because she is such an amazing role model for athletes in any sport. I have huge amounts of respect for what she achieved in heptathlon over her career, especially as the sport is so incredibly demanding.
Like gymnastics, there are so many events and skills you have to master to get to the top. I take a great deal of inspiration in what she accomplished in London and to come back and win a medal again four years later in Rio is an astonishing feat.
I had the honour of meeting Jess at a Sky Living for Sport event at her base in Sheffield. For her to take the time to say hello and chat to me about my gymnastics was something very special.
She's a true legend and up there with GB's greatest ever sport stars. It was a pleasure to have the opportunity to meet Jess and I wish her and her family all the best for the future.
OLIVIA BREEN, GB Paralympic athlete.....
Jess is such an amazing athlete and such a lovely person. The world of athletics will really miss her incredible talent, attitude, determination and the impact she had on inspiring and encouraging new, young athletes.
Jess has always been so encouraging, sensible and genuinely interested in me and I will really miss seeing her at competitions. Even though she was one of Britain's biggest talents she always had time for everyone.
I wish her all the very, very best for the next stage of her journey and thank her so much for all her help and inspiration to me.
JACK BATESON, GB flyweight boxer.....
I've been lucky enough to meet Jess on several occasions as well as share a gym with her at the EIS in Sheffield where we are both based. Jess is proof that hard work and persistence really does pay off.
I've seen how hard she trains, and the effort that she puts in really sets an example to those she inspires who want to one day achieve greatness of their own. She is an inspiration to our generation and can be very happy to retire on such a high. I wish her all the best for the future. She deserves it and her legacy will live on.
JESS JUDD, GB 1500m runner
Jess has always been really friendly and a genuinely nice person to be around. I remember before a competition I was really nervous and I saw her in the warm-up area and she smiled at me.
It made me feel like she knew who I was and it definitely calmed my nerves. She's been around at the top level for such a long time and will be missed. She's such an inspiration and was someone you could really look to and aspire to be like!
I always appreciate someone making time for you, even when they are so busy themselves and for her to smile at me that one time literally meant the world. She's a true sporting idol.
HOLLY BRADSHAW, GB pole vaulter.....
Jess has always been such an inspiration to me. She has such an amazing attitude and is a brilliant role model for old and young.
QUILLAN ISIDORE, GB BMX rider.....
Jess is a fantastic sportswoman and an inspiration to many. The two biggest things for me was how she carried herself into her home Olympics as the poster girl and thrived off it - bringing home gold. To have that pressure on her must have been immense.
The second was how she came back to be world champion and win silver in Rio after giving birth to her first son. Not an easy journey to surpass. To me, she's a legend.
LUCY GARNER, GB road racer.....
I didn't meet her but she's been such an inspiration to many athletes and also for mums around the world. I really respect her for everything she has done and achieved. She's an amazing athlete who has achieved so much.
SIOBHAN-MARIE O'CONNOR, GB swimmer.....
Jessica has been an inspiration to all girls and women in sport. Watching her at London 2012 inspired me so much.
She is an amazing role model in so many ways. I wish her huge congratulations on a phenomenal career.
SAVANNAH MARSHALL, GB middleweight boxer.....
Jess was a great athlete and role model. She always had time for everyone in the gym and to me that meant the world. An Olympic champion saying hello and asking how training was going was amazing.
