Introduced to athletics at a young age, Jessica took part in local athletics camps where she had her first taste of success and went on to meet her coach Toni Minichello. Taking to the sport like a duck to water, she joined the City of Sheffield’s Athletics Club at the age of eleven. At the age of fourteen, Jessica won the Sheffield Federation for School Sports Whitham Award for the best performance at the National School Championships, winning the high jump competition and announcing herself as a real talent for the future. She continued to rise through the ranks while studying for a degree in Psychology at Sheffield University, turning professional following her graduation in 2005. During her first season at the elite level, Jessica won a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games and in 2009 took gold at the world Championships but her undoubted crowning glory was the Olympic Heptathlon title won in London at the 2012 Games. 

Having also won the hearts of the nation, Jessica was honoured with a CBE in the New Years Honours List of the same year, appeared on a Royal Mail commemorative postage stamp and had a gold post box dedicated to her in the centre of Sheffield.

In 2015, following the birth of her son Reggie, Jessica returned to competitive athletics becoming World Champion in the Heptathlon in Beijing. She later went on to take the silver medal in the Rio Olympics of 2016, another major achievement which signaled the end of an incredible career.

Having retired from competitive sport, Dame Jessica continues to act as a role model and charity campaigner.

Not surprisingly she is in great demand for corporate events where she is available for personal appearances, awards hosting and moderated Q&A.

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