Ennis-hill Presented With Outstanding Contribution To Sport Award
Dame Jessica-Ennis Hill DBE was celebrated by the sport industry, alongside former Team GB colleagues, last night after being presented with the Outstanding Contribution to Sport Award in association with Vitality at the BT Sport Industry Awards.
The Award marked a double celebration for the former athlete who picked up her damehood from the Duke of Cambridge last week.
She was awarded the prestigious trophy by fellow Rio 2016 medalists Tom Daley and Laura Kenny CBE.
Tom Daley, who became diving world champion at the age of 15, was alongside Laura Kenny CBE, Britain’s most successful female Olympian, to present the award to fellow adidas athlete Ennis-Hill who retired last year.
The moment received a huge round of applause from the packed room at the BT Sport Industry Awards, the largest commercial sports awards celebrating the best in the business and attracting sports stars, celebrities and leading figures from across the industry.
Dame Jessica, who won silver in the heptathlon at the Rio Olympics, announced her retirement in October. It followed a glittering career during which she claimed one Olympic and three World Championships in one of the toughest track and field disciplines.
As well as achieving perfection in her sport, she became the face of the London Olympic Games making her one of Britain’s best-known and best-loved athletes.
She returned to elite sport – and gold medals – after becoming mother to son Reggie in 2014, and in doing so established herself as a role model for countless women of all sporting abilities who want to return to physical activity after becoming a parent.
“It’s such a nice surprise to stand up there, and hear such kind words that Tom and Laura said,” said Dame Jess. “To look back on my career it’s really special.”
“When you see it all up on screen then the memories come flooding back and the emotions.”
On being honoured at the awards, she said “I’m really excited, it’s been an incredible year and it always is… To celebrate sport in this way and the sponsors who put so much time and energy into making our sports amazing. It’s great to be honoured here and celebrate it.”
“I don’t think anyone could have guessed how much of an impact she would go on to make outside of the stadium,” said Tom Daley. “In the decade since that first senior podium finish, the landscape of women’s sport has seen a genuine change and she has been a key inspiration for this.
“Between London and Rio she gave birth to her first child. I know how much time my parents gave to me, so it’s truly remarkable that she has balanced being an amazing mother with training for one of the toughest events out there, and continuing to perform at the highest level on the world’s stage.”
The BT Sport Industry Awards 2017 took place on Thursday night at Battersea Evolution in London.
BT is headline partner of the Awards, with Coutts, ESPN and EY official partners.
Click here to find out more information about the Awards and view the full list of winners here.
