Jess wins Gold
Sheffield's Jessica Ennis has fulfilled her Olympic destiny - taking gold in the heptathlon in a stadium that was a boiling cauldron of emotion.
For the past four years Ennis, 26, has been proclaimed to be the face of the 2012 London Games - and the weight of expectation could have been an intolerable burden to bear.
But she swept to a stunning victory - earning her a place among Britain's sporting elite. She ran to glory with a sensational sprint down the home straight of the 800m as she crowned two days of tough competition in the Olympic Stadium with a stellar performance.
Taking a Union flag from members of Team GB, she led all the heptathletes on a parade lap of the stadium, repeatedly stopping to hold hands with the others and bow to the crowd.
She broke down in tears when interviewed on television after the 800m race.
Prime Minister David Cameron tweeted: "Awe inspiring win for Jessica Ennis. Proud to be cheering her on with the home crowd. Atmosphere electric on #SuperSaturday".
Sir Chris Hoy said on Twitter: "That's how to do it!! Finish the job in style! Just superb @J--Ennis !!!!
Mark Cavendish tweeted: "I don't normally stand up off the sofa for much other than cycling, but I did just that while watching @J--Ennis bring home heptathlon Gold!"
And Tom Daley also took to the microblogging site to say: "Absolutely amazing Jess!!! Congratulations! Moment of the games right there!!!"
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg called for Ennis to be given the freedom of her home city of Sheffield. Mr Clegg, who is MP for Sheffield Hallam, said: "As a Sheffield MP, seeing local girl Jess win gold has been the highlight of the Olympics so far. Her truly inspirational victory has done our country and Sheffield proud."
Councillor Julie Dore, leader of Sheffield City Council, said: "The whole of Sheffield is buzzing with excitement and filled with pride for our Olympic Champion, Jessica Ennis. A homegrown gold medal winner being born and bred in the city.
"Jessica is truly 'Made in Sheffield' and we are bursting with joy to see her take Olympic gold.
"After being unable to compete in Beijing in 2008 due to injury, taking gold in London in 2012 is fantastic news and well deserved. I know the whole city has been behind her throughout her Olympic journey, and yet again she has done us proud!
"Jessica is known and admired by sports fans across the world and is an ideal role model for young people not only here in Sheffield but nationally.
"She is a great ambassador for the city and a fantastic role model to inspire
and encourage our next generation of rising sports stars."
Thousands of people went absolutely crazy in Sheffield when Ennis crossed the line at the Olympic Stadium. For much of the day, the Don Valley stadium - where the city's big screen hasbeen erected - resembled a country picnic. But, as their hero came out for her 800m heat, 2,000 people surged to the front of the big screen, the floodlights came on, and the stadium where Ennis was discovered and still trains suddenly resembled a rock concert.
Every time Ennis's face appeared on the screen the cheers got louder. Even when the live TV feed switched to the long jump, the athletes jumping for Britain were roared on too. When the starter's gun went off, Sheffield produced a wall of noise. And when Ennis crossed the line, there were hugs, tears and even louder screams. Jessica Burton, 17, said: "On my god she's done it. "We love her, we love her, we love her. "I am so proud to be from the same city as Jess Ennis."
This is how the gold was won.
100m hurdles: Wins in a sensational 12.54 seconds, a time which won gold in the
individual event in Beijing and is the fastest ever recorded in a heptathlon.
The massive personal best also gives Ennis the British record and 1,195 points
to lead by 17 from Canada's Jessica Zelinka.
High jump: Clears 1.86m and is agonisingly close to getting over 1.89m.
American Hyleas Fountain also clears 1.86m to lie 25 points behind in second.
Ennis has 2249, Fountain 2224.
Shot: A solid 14.28m is not enough to maintain the lead, with Austra Skujyte
throwing a heptathlon world best of 17.31m to move from 139 points behind Ennis
to 64 in front (3126 to 3062).
200m: A second PB of the day of 22.83secs gives Ennis a lead of 184 points over
Skujyte with a best ever first-day total of 4,158. Skujyte has 3974 with
Canada's Jessica Zelinka third with 3903.
Saturday:
Long jump: Ennis hits the board perfectly to leap 6.40m in the second round and
improves to 6.48m in the third to extend her lead over Skujyte to 258 points
(5159 to 4901).
Javelin: Banishes the memories of the terrible javelin performance in Daegu
which cost her the world title, throwing 46.61m, 45.99m and then a PB of 47.49m
in the final round. Skuyjte managed 51.13m to close the gap by 70 points, but
Ennis takes a massive 188-point lead into the final event.
800m: Ennis goes out hard and completes the opening lap in an amazing 61.89s.
After being overtaken on the second lap she refuses to be beaten and storms down
the home straight to win in 2:08.65. That gives her a new PB and British record
of 6,955 points and a winning margin of 327 points over world champion Tatyana
Chernova.