‘Sometimes I Just Don't Want To Exercise At All!'

Olympic athlete Jessica Ennis-Hill, 34, on her slower pace of life, being left with the kids in lockdown, and finding ways to clear her mind…

- Emma Messenger

If there is anyone who could survive lockdown, it’s Jessica Ennis-Hill. Or to give her the full title, one she’s far too modest to be known by: Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill. ‘I’m used to having a very structured, regimented life,’ she says, talking from the Sheffield home she shares with her husband Andy – a construction site-planner she’s been with since her teens – and their children.

Because, of course, 34-year-old Jessica is one of the greatest athletes this country has ever produced. And the Olympic and World Champion heptathlete spent over 20 years dedicated to training to be the very best.

‘Every day you’d go to the track. Everything was focused on winning. Though it’s very different now that kids are thrown into the equation!’ she says of five-year-old Reggie and two-year-old Olivia, who they call Liv.

Born and raised in Sheffield to Vinnie, a painter and decorator, and Alison, a social worker, Jessica’s early promise was spotted at an athletics camp at 13 years old, by Toni Minichiello, who would go on to be her coach throughout her career. One that would see her claim gold at the 2009 World Championships and again at the London 2012 Olympics.

The entire world was gripped when she climbed the podium on ‘Super Saturday’, which marked Team GB’s best Olympics performance in 104 years, with Jess being one of three gold medal winners that day. But, in fact, that wasn’t actually her proudest moment. That came when she claimed silver at the 2016 Rio Olympics, only two years after giving birth to Reggie.