8 December 2010

Last week Jessica Ennis was nominated for the 2010 BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award after winning two fantastic gold medals in 2010.

Here are seven reasons – one for each discipline in the heptathlon, the event in which she rules the world – why Ennis deserves to win the prestigious award.

If you think Ennis should win, and for the chance to win a signed vest, spread the word and download your own free ‘Vote Jess!’ profile picture on Facebook.

1. Triumph over adversity. Ennis suffered the heartbreak of missing out on her Olympic dream when she found out that she had three stress fractures in her foot on the eve of the Beijing Games. This devastating episode could have ended her career but instead was just the start of her meteoric rise.

2. World Champion. Ennis ruled the world in Berlin last year, becoming IAAF World Champion after leading from the very first event through to crossing the line in the final event at the Olympic Stadium, putting the woes of her injury well and truly in the past.

3. World Indoor Champion. She won another spectacular gold medal with a British record-breaking performance in the pentathlon in Doha, again leading from the start.

4. European Champion. Again leading from the very first event, Ennis stamped her authority, on this the toughest of disciplines, adding the European title to her World and World Indoor titles on a glorious golden Saturday evening in Barcelona.

5. Rankings. Ennis is world number one in the heptathlon after posting the highest score of the year. She also topped the IAAF World Rankings in 2009. Her ability to excel at multi-events by no means makes her a ‘Jack of all trades’ – she is the joint British high jump record holder and earlier this year beat Lolo Jones (who went on to win the IAAF World Indoor title) at 60m hurdles.

6. Personality. It is, after all, Sports ‘Personality’ and there is no better contender than Ennis. Seen by fans as the current ‘golden girl’ of British athletics and captained the team in 2010, the down-to-earth Yorkshire girl is adored by fans worldwide.

7. Role model. The 24-year-old – one of only two women nominated in 2010 – is a great role model for children everywhere. Her manner on and off the track is impeccable and she has given back to the sport she loves by being an ambassador for the Aviva UKA Academy, the very place she started her career.