JESSICA Ennis and Team GB made Olympics history last night with an amazing SIX
gold medals — the most we have ever won in a single day.
Jessica, 26 — famed for her washboard stomach — grabbed hers in the Olympic
Stadium with victory in the heptathlon.
She was joined by Mo Farah in the 10,000 metres and long jumper Greg
Rutherford.
She said: “I just thought I’m only going to have one chance in front of a home
crowd and I wanted to give them a show.”
Our rowers had started Team GB’s record day when the men’s coxless four of
Alex Gregory, Pete Reed, Tom James and Andrew Triggs-Hodge claimed gold at
Eton Dorney.
Then Kat Copeland and Sophie Hosking triumphed in the lightweight women’s
double scull.
The women’s cycling pursuit team of Dani King, Laura Trott and Joanna Rowsell
also grabbed gold.
The six gold medals in a single day is the best total since 1908. Britain are
now third in the medal table — with 14 golds, seven silvers and eight
bronzes.
London Mayor Boris Johnson said their efforts “brought rapture to streets all
over the country”.
Hep, hep, hooray!
By EMILY NASH and NICK PARKER in the Olympic Stadium
JUBILANT Jessica Ennis was last night crowned Britain’s Olympic golden girl
with a glorious heptathlon triumph.
Jess, the face of London 2012, sealed her gold medal with a storming 800
metres victory as an ecstatic 80,000 crowd roared her on.
Among those screaming themselves hoarse as she crossed the finish line were
Wills and Kate, Jess’s proud parents Vinnie and Alison, and fiance Andy
Hill.
Jess, 26, collapsed weeping tears of joy — before leaping to her feet with a
huge grin.
She wrapped herself in a Union Flag emblazoned with the words “Jess Ennis
London 2012 Olympic Champion” and did a lap of honour as the Olympic Stadium
erupted.
A tearful Jess, still engulfed in the massive flag, said: “It’s a massive
relief, it’s so hard getting through a heptathlon, it’s such a hard event.
“To come into this event with all that pressure and everyone saying you’re
going to win gold — I can’t believe I’ve done it.
“I was really nervous but the crowd supported me so much.
“It’s going to be a great night. I want to see my family and relax. All that
pressure is off me now!”
Britain’s Olympic stars past and present last night paid tribute to Jess — as
she was hailed our greatest all-round women athlete.
Lord Coe said she was “foot perfect the whole way” adding it was “the greatest
night of British athletics.”
Sir Chris Hoy said: “That’s how to do it — finish the job in style! Just
superb.”
Mark Cavendish added: “I don’t normally stand up on the sofa for much other
than cycling but I did just that while watching her bring home gold.”
Diver Tom Daley said: “Absolutely amazing Jess, congratulations. The moment of
the Games.”
Denise Lewis, a former gold medal heptathlete and Ennis’s idol, said: “We’ve
witnessed greatness. She has been outstanding, remarkable.”
David Cameron described her victory as “awe-inspiring”.
Deputy PM Nick Clegg said: “As a Sheffield MP, seeing local girl Jess win gold
has been the highlight of the Olympics.”
TV host Gabby Logan said: “That was brilliant. She’s taken all the pressure,
the expectation and delivered. A truly Great Briton. Jess, you are a
Goddess.”
Jess’s 800m time of 2:08.65 means she smashed her own British heptathlon
record, finishing with 6,955 points.
Russia’s Tatyana Chernova took silver and Lyudmyla Yosypenko of Ukraine the
bronze. Jess went into the final round of the heptathlon 188 points ahead of
nearest rival Lithuanian Austra Skujyte after stunning performances in her
first six events.
By the time she stood on the start line for her last outing, just 800 metres
stood between her and a place in Olympic history.
Jess initially led the field before briefly slipping back to third. But as the
runners rounded the final corner she kicked for home and left her fellow
competitors trailing.
Jess had gone into the heptathlon’s second day yesterday on 4,158 points — 184
in the lead and more than 300 clear of current Russian world champion
Chernova.
First up was the long jump — not her strongest event. But an outstanding 6.48m
leap banished any lingering fears of a disappointment.
Then it was on to the javelin. It is her weakest event but her third throw
sailed a massive 47.49metres, her third personal best of the contest.
Afterwards, Jess told of relief, saying: “I was anxious coming into today, my
long jump having been up and down all year.
“I kept thinking ‘Am I going to throw it away doing three no-jumps?’
“I can’t believe I got a personal best in the javelin.”
On Friday, the first day of the heptathlon, Jess had set her rivals a
scorching pace. She ran the 100m hurdles in 12.54 seconds — a personal best
and a heptathlete record.
Jess then cleared 1.86metres in the high jump and threw 14.28metres in the
shot put.
And she ran her fastest ever 200metres in 22.83 seconds.
Jess’s sponsorship earnings are now likely to double next year to around
£2million.
Simon Chadwick, Coventry University’s professor of sport business strategy,
said: “The better she does the more she’s paid.”