A look back at Jessica Ennis-Hill's career

The National Student

She is undoubtedly a fantastic Brit, the embodiment of the Olympic spirit and determination, a refusal to give in, and the desire to be the best you can be. She’s retired at the age of 30, with numerous accolades under her belt, ranging from an Olympic gold to setting British records in the heptathlon and 100m hurdles.

She took on athletics at an early age, and quickly showed a proficiency for it. Her coach, Toni Minichiello, has been with her every step of her 18-year career. An inspiration, he always pushed her to reach her best. From winning a pair of trainers at the age of eleven, to Olympic champion. Her strength lay in her competing as a heptathlete, and she won her first bronze in this event at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Australia.

Following this came gold in the 2009 and 2015 World Championships, Gold at London 2012 and in Barcelona 2010 for the European Championships. Already a glittering resumé, and that’s not even mentioning the silver medals.

It wasn’t a career that came without challenges. She struggled with an Achilles problem in 2013, and was out for 2014 due to her pregnancy with son Reggie. Yet this did nothing to deter her. She bounced back, winning a world championship gold in Beijing in 2015, and then a silver at Rio 2016. She was unable to beat out the efforts of Belgium’s Nafissatou Thiam, yet she still managed to overcome other extremely worthy challengers despite the fact she missed such a large period of training during her pregnancy.

On her retirement, Ennis-Hill said she felt it was the right time to retire, whilst still on a high of the sport, and extensively thanked everybody who helped her on her journey of greatness. There have been no shortage of well-wishers, with some acknowledgements coming from former Olympic teammate Kelly Sotherton and former GB athlete and record-holder Seb Coe, to name a few.

She encapsulates what it means to never give up. The attitude she showed to return to Olympic fitness, to become the second-best in the world. It’s an attitude every single person can learn from. It goes without saying that she’s a fantastic role model. A wonderful athlete, and somebody that Britain can be proud to call one of their own. Here’s to you, Jess.A