Jessica Ennis-Hill: Retired Olympic champion an 'all-time great' - Steve Cram

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Jessica Ennis-Hill is all-time great - Steve Cram

The newly retired Jessica Ennis-Hill is one of Britain's greatest athletes, says former world 1500m champion Steve Cram.

The 30-year-old won heptathlon gold at London 2012 and added a silver medal at the Rio Olympics.

Ennis-Hill also won the World Championships in 2009 and again in 2015, just 13 months after the birth of her first child, Reggie.

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How Ennis-Hill inspired a nation

Cram told the BBC: "She fully deserves to be called an all-time great."

And former Olympic relay gold medallist Darren Campbell called her achievements "mind-blowing".

Ennis-Hill's heptathlon gold was one of the the iconic moments at London 2012 and occurred on 'Super Saturday', when British trio Ennis-Hill, Greg Rutherford and Mo Farah all won gold with 44 minutes.

The Sheffield athlete announced her retirement on social media on Thursday, writing: "Retiring now is right. I've always said I wanted to leave on a high and have no regrets and I can truly say that."

Image source, BBC Sport
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Ennis-Hill dominated the back pages of Friday's papers

Former Olympic gold medallist Campbell told Radio 5 live: "It's a sad day but it's also a day where we should celebrate what a phenomenal athlete Jessica Ennis-Hill was. She gave so much to sport, achieved so much, had so many inspirational moments throughout her career.

"She is a normal girl, but she has achieved things that are exceptional and mind-blowing. It is only when you sit back and reflect that you realise how mind-blowing they are."

Image source, Denise Lewis
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Britian's former Olympic heptathlon champion Denise Lewis

Image source, @JohnsonThompson
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Fellow British heptathlete Katerina Johnson-Thompson

Image source, @GregJRutherford
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Former Olympic champion long jumper Greg Rutherford also tweeted his congratulations

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Watch the moment Ennis secures a memorable heptathlon gold

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Ennis-Hill wants you to get active

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