It's time to focus on one outstanding individual today, which is very appropriate seeing that it is her birthday! So, I'd like to wish a very happy birthday to the lovely Jessica Ennis-Hill CBE, who has already secured her place among the all-time sporting greats.
A Yorkshire lass, Jessica Ennis was born in Sheffield on the 28th January, 1986. Getting into track and field athletics at an early age, the young Jessica soon developed a love of the heptathlon. The heptathlon combines seven different events; 100 metres hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200 metres, long jump, javelin, and 800 meters.
Ennis competed at the 2003 World Youth Championships, where she finished fifth. The following year, Jessica finished eighth. Ironically, at both events she led after the first day of competition. At the European Junior Championships in 2005, Ennis gave her first gold medal performance, setting a new British junior record score of 5,891 points.
Competing as a senior at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, set a new personal best score on the way to claiming a bronze medal. She set new PB's in the 200m, javelin, and high jump - her jump of 1.91 metres would have won a gold in the individual event!
Over the next few seasons, Ennis would continually improve on her PB's, although a foot injury kept her out of action for most of 2008, and the early part of 2009. It didn't seem to really hurt, though, as in August 2009, Ennis became World Champion, and - surprise, surprise - set another new personal best! In 2010, the title of European Champion was added to her ever-growing list of accomplishments.
At the 2011 World Championships, Ennis finished second. At the World Indoor Championships in 2012, Ennis could again only finish second (it took a new World Record score from Nataliya Dobrynska to beat her). However, Jessica Ennis achieved the ultimate later that year, capturing Olympic gold at the London games! She also set new British and Commonwealth record scores.
In addition to the heptathlon, Ennis has continued to compete in a variety of individual events, and has a pretty impressive list of wins, notably in the high jump and hurdles events. The last couple of years have been fairly quiet competition-wise, with marriage to Andy Hill, and the birth of her son being the priority! At the end of 2014, Ennis-Hill returned to full time-training.
Happy Birthday, Jessica!
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