Live Webchat with Jessica Ennis-Hill: Thursday 13 March, 11.00AM - 12.00PM

[KateHMumsnet]

We're excited to announce that the immensely talented Olympic champion Jessica Ennis-Hill will be joining us at MNHQ!

In one of the most iconic moments of the London 2012 Olympic Games, Jessica made history by winning heptathlon gold for Great Britain. A member of the City of Sheffield Athletic Club, she is the current World and European heptathlon champion and world indoor pentathlon champion, and has recently announced she is pregnant with her first child, a very exciting addition to the team!

Post a question for Jessica in advance below, or join us on the 13th between 11.00AM and 12.00PM.

Thanks
MNHQ

[TunipTheUnconquerable]

Oh wow. My dd loves her so much she made a Jessica Ennis collage. Now I need to think of a question too.

[MrsVamos]

Oh my goodness !

We adore Jess too, especially my 9 year old DD who would LOVE it if Jess would say "hello" !

Jess.

Many, many congrats on your very exciting news ! How are you finding pregnancy ?
How much have you had to change your regime to 'fit in' yor pregnancy ? Is it easier or harder than you imagined ?

and

[MrsVamos]

Oooh, sorry, that was a bit greedy, wasn't it ? Asking 3 questions.

You only have to answer 1, if you like, Jess. Any one, I don't mind !

[Faverolles]

Wow! My daughter is your biggest fan. Her bedroom is literally covered with posters of you!

My daughter's dream is to be an athlete like you. She is very talented, but we live rurally and there is a real lack of accessible facilities.
How does someone get involved in athletics when there are no clubs nearby?

Very cheeky as well, but it would make her year if you would say hello to her, she's called Maggie. She hopes you'll name her baby Maggie (unless it's a boy of course), but won't hold it against you if you decide on another name

[Blondieminx]

Yay! We love Jess in our house too, she's such a great role model , lovely to have her on for a webchat!

I hope pregnancy is treating you well

What was your favourite comfort food as a child?

[cashewfrenzy]

Weeeeeeeee! How exciting, one of the best and most inspiring female role models around!

Jess, about women in sport. I've come late to the joys of sport, as someone who was labeled "the fat slow one" in school. In your opinion, is it important to have women-only facilites and groups? What can we do to prevent the disengagement from sports that occurs when girls reach their teens?

[gleegeek]

Hi Jessica.
How would you make sure girls aren't put off sport?
My dd (10) goes to a large junior school with a PE specialist teacher. At infants school dd was very keen on sport but has become disenfranchised since going to junior school as it is a very small number of girls who are chosen to represent the school. They take great pride in winning every competition but the result is that the 'sporty girls' get better and better at the expense of the majority.
Dd swims, climbs, does ballet, rides her bike outside school and is generally fairly well coordinated and fit. But she describes herself as rubbish at sport because she isn't ever picked to compete.... I fear that she will give up when she goes to secondary and do no sport (like her mother! )
I would like emphasis put on the importance of sport for health, and opportunity to compete with your own personal best.

Sorry longer than I intended!

[TwoLeftSocks]

Brilliant! Hello Jess, great to have you on here.

The vibe in Sheffield was awesome when you won gold and the kids at school were really inspired (as I think were many parents).

I'm wondering

[TwoLeftSocks]

I'm wondering (as well as how to post properly) what you think of sports provision in school, especially sports other than football (which dominates at my son's school, yet is of little interest to many).

[TwoLeftSocks]

Oh and congratulations, hope the pregnancy is going well.

[Sunshineonsea]

Hi Jessica!

We think you are amazing in the sunshine house, a real role model that appeals to the old and the young alike.

I would like to ask how do you envisage life post-baby exercise-wise?
Do you have any plans in place so far?

[LIG1979]

Hi Jessica and congratulations, I am another fan of yours!
What exercise are you doing now you are pregnant? Also, did you make any changes to your exercise routine whilst trying to become pregnant?

[newgirl]

We love Jess too!!! Congrats on all your sporting successes - you are a wonderful role model.

Question - my 11 year old has always done school athletics/cross country but on starting at secondary school now says she 'hates running', possibly because she is not in the teams. What can I do?

[StolenStollen]

Me and my DD love Jess too. I haven't got a question I do have a huge girl crush but I'll ask DD later when I see her and see if she's any questions.

[slowlygettingthere]

Welcome Jessica and congrats on the impending arrival


I have rather given up on sport as an adult - though loved it at school
I now have twin DDs and want to make sure that they get the bug
Any advice?
thanks

[legoplayingmumsunite]

Just want to say thanks Jess for being a hugh inspiration to little girls (and big ones!) all over the country. My two are massive fans and are so inspired by you and all our other Olympic athletes. Will consult with DD1 to see what she'd like to ask you.

[ZingSweetMango]

Congrats on baby news and all the best!

You were awesome on the day and my kids were jumping with joy (as for all wins) - how you kept focused under so much pressure and expectations I'll never know!

Who is your role model?

[midwifeandmum]

Hi jessica.
First of all congratulations on your pregnancy, come july you will be a mumsnets expert!!
You are such a fantastic role model for young people, especially young girls.

Im 28 and had my 2 girls 4 and 2 years ago. I felt no tremendous pressure after both mines to loose baby weight. Women tend to ask quite regularly the best way to loose weight after their baby. And I try to tell them to forget about weight loss, enjoy your baby and this marvellous bonding experience. But to alot of celebrity culture, its sadly became a race to how much weight can be lost i.e. Kim Kardashian.

My question is, will you feel pressurised to get back to athletic health quickly after your birth? (I hopenot)
I watched you on bbc news this morning and you look amazing. I doubt youll have to loose any weight at all.

Best of luck xx

[Willemdefoeismine]

Hi Jennifer

I, along with nine other Mumsnetters, have been lucky enough to undertake the PruHealth Vitality Challenge over the past two months. For me it has been empowering and has, at a significant time of my life, made me face up to the importance of staying fit, active and pursuing an all-round more healthy lifestyle. I hope that the foundations laid down will keep me on the right path for the future.

I wonder, in your role as an Ambassador for PruHealth Vitality, what your message to Mumsnetters, in general, would be in terms of living a more healthy lifestyle?

Many thanks

[Justers]

Hi Jessica
My son is only 7 years but is showing some talent in tennis (he firmly believes he'll be the next Andy Murray!). Did you feel under pressure to perform when you were growing up and what advice would you give to parents of aspiring sports stars of the future?
Thanks

[cerealism]

Hello Jess,

Are you concerned about the privatisation of youth sport?

It has always been possible for children, who are gifted athletes, to find some form of free training, but access to this is dwindling.

Brilliant volunteer coaches are nearing retirement age, and are being replaced by a new breed, which can charge, above and beyond, £40 per hour, for coaching in some track and field events.

I feel that this goes against the spirit of "fair play" previously associated with British athletics and obviously against the concept of a level playing field!

My dd - early teens - is a club athlete of county standard, has taken part in three or four UK championships. She is British/Afro Caribbean and looks to you as a role model.

We are finding, however, that just to compete is becoming more and more challenging. Meets that used to cost £2 to enter are now charging £11. This mounts up, if, as a budding athlete, you are having to enter lots of comps.

We've managed to attract some sponsorship and some free coaching.
But the coaches, who train for free, are having to stand next to people on the same track, who are getting paid a shed load for doing the exactly the same thing. How long before they all start to impose ridiculous charges?

This disproportionately hits the poor from BME backgrounds, the very group, which shows prodigious talent in track and field. What, if anything, can be done?

[IamInvisible]

Hello Jessica. Congratulations on your pregnancy.

We love you in this house, especially DS2(17) who was a sprinting county champion at primary school. Unfortunately he had to give up athletics because of a knee injury. He is poorly at the moment, and it would make his year if you could wish him better.

[ZingSweetMango]

Iam

I know I'm not Jessica, but may I wish him to get better as well anyway?

[IWasThere4Aug12]

Hi Jess Congrats on your pregnancy
I wanted to ask were you always competitive as a child and was it restricted to the sports field or did it spill over into other areas such as school work, computer games with siblings etc DS1 is competitive and I'm not sure If it's something I should encourage
Thanks
PS if you want my username for when you're posting to mumsnet during those long night feeds I'll relinquish it for you