Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill was born on 28 January 1986 in Sheffield and is 38 years old. She is an athlete specialising in the heptathlon and 100 metres hurdle and won the gold medal in the heptathlon at the 2012 Olympics and the silver at the 2016 Olympics. Jessica will discover her family history on Who Do You Think You Are? on Thursday 12 September 2024. Here’s five things you might not know about the star…
1. Culinary ambitions
Before lacing up her spikes and mastering the heptathlon, Jessica’s dream was to whip up culinary delights, not world records. Up until the age of 10, she harboured ambitions of becoming a chef, inspired by the delicious home-cooked meals prepared by her Jamaican father.
2. Height record
At 5 feet 4.5 inches, Jessica is the shortest woman ever to win a gold medal in the Olympic heptathlon.
3. Tech success
After retiring from professional athletics, Jessica Ennis-Hill ventured into the tech world by launching her own fitness app called Jennis. The app offers workout routines, fitness plans, and wellness advice tailored for women, particularly focusing on pre-and post-natal fitness.
4. Awards triumph
In 2017, Jessica was made a Commander of the British Empire for her services to athletics.
5. Academic accolades
In 2007, while training for the 2008 Olympics, Jessica also completed a degree in psychology at the University of Sheffield.