Jessica Ennis-Hill calls for ways to 'keep more girls in sport'

Olympian Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill discusses women in sport, her life as a mum-of-two and why she eats far less now than she did as an athlete.

Olympian and three-times world champion heptathlete, Jessica Ennis-Hill is one of Great Britain’s most successful names in sport. The 38-year-old, who won gold at the London 2012 Olympic Games and silver at Rio in 2016, is one of the most respected British sports stars of all time. Since retiring from athletics, the former British track and field star juggles family life with her work as a sports pundit.

Here she speaks to us about life post-retirement and why she is delighted her children, nine-year-old Reggie and six-year-old Olivia, have inherited her passion for sport.

Is fitness still a big part of your life since you retired as an athlete eight years ago?

Absolutely yes. I enjoy running and doing weights, going on the bike and circuit training. I love the variety of different sports and try to follow the same ethos as when I used to train. I am always staying active and as any parent of young kids will know, we are always kept on our toes!

Do you enjoy doing sports with your kids and have they followed your passion for it?

We are very much an active family and weekends always involve dog walks and bike rides – there is nothing better than time outdoors together. My kids love being active and we encourage them to try lots of different sports and to find what they really enjoy. My parents were really supportive of me doing athletics but they never pushed me at all – I use them as my role models now and like to encourage and support my two in what they choose to do.

I am lucky that Reggie and Olivia are very athletic kids who are always on the go, be it running, swimming or playing tennis. I will never try to force them to be professional athletes but I’ll definitely guide them and encourage them. I believe sport gives girls, in particular, confidence and discipline, which are amazing tools to have.

When it comes to nutrition, how do you like to eat now? Is it a very different eating regime to the one you had as an athlete?

I am conscious of what I eat – I like to make sure my diet is balanced and that I get all the vitamins and nutrients I need from the foods I eat. I tend to cook from scratch and where I can I buy local ingredients so they are as fresh and nutritious as possible. Having two young children has really made me think a lot about food provenance.

I definitely do not eat as much as I did as an athlete – I had to eat a lot then as I was training so much. Now I have a really healthy approach to what I eat and drink – nothing is off limits but moderation is really important.

As an athlete, you followed a very strict schedule when it came to work. Now being a parent, has that been difficult to adjust to or are you still a stickler for routine?

Yes, it has been fairly challenging to let myself go, so to speak. I think I am a very structured person and need a plan to follow. To be honest, even on holiday I try to have a plan for relaxing but kids can be unpredictable and mine have definitely taught me to go with the flow a bit more. I believe though that when you have little kids they thrive on a routine.

A lot has been spoken about the lack of gender equality in sport. What are your thoughts?

I think we have come a long way in gender equality in sport – but there is still a way to go. I think more sponsors need to get behind women’s sport to help raise the profile and make the teams/individuals stand out. Success leads to greater fan following and the more people that follow a sport, the more the sport attracts sponsors and TV coverage. I think we also have to find ways to keep more girls in sport – the bigger the pool of talent the better.

The profile of female sport has changed. These days there is a lot more awareness of female athletes and they are more visible as you see ad campaigns with their narrative being told in a better way. It helps for young girls to have role models to look up to, so they can inspire them. We need to understand girls better, especially that period of their life where they are going through puberty and feel self-conscious of their bodies.

You are a role model for young girls. What do you believe helped you achieve so much in your career?

I came from a very loving family but we did not have much money and my parents worked really hard to make sure my sister and I had all we needed. I think my drive and resilience were part of my DNA and my competitive nature definitely came from my mum. Once you start to do well and win, there is no looking back.

I want to inspire as many people as possible to be active – I got so much out of my involvement with sport and feel that everyone can enjoy activity in some way. I want to create events that inspire people to simply get out there and be healthier.

At the last Olympics in Tokyo, you were confined to a studio as a commentator due to Covid restrictions. How excited are you to be in the heart of the Paris games later this month?

I cannot wait to soak up the atmosphere! It is going to be amazing and I am so confident Team GB will be celebrating numerous medals and bring home gold.

As the official travel partner, Eurostar has launched the Golden Train to support athletes 'going for gold' this year at the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. To book your tickets, visit Eurostar.com.

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