Forged in the Berlin crucible, champion Ennis has nerves of Steel

 WHEN it comes to winning smiles, Jess Ennis should know that hers is already worth a fortune.

JUST CHAMPION: Jess Ennis arrived as world number one and left as the world champion, underlining her London 2012 credentials

On a historic night in Berlin, the City of Sheffield heptathlete became the first British multi-eventer to win a world title since Daley Thompson’s decathlon triumph in Helsinki 26 long years ago.

The two couldn’t be more different – the cocky motor-mouthed Thompson and the cautious measured Ennis – but they are cast from the same rare mould.

British team room-mate Louise Hazel revealed that the unfailingly nice Ennis – still just 23 - had been reading Fern Britton’s autobiography to take her mind off being Britain’s top medal hope.

But forget This Morning, this was just her night.

True, her achievements will be overshadowed on a global stage by Usain Bolt but domestically, Ennis is where it’s at and she can only expect the pressure to increase on the countdown to London 2012.

Forged in the crucible of Berlin’s Olympiastadion, this win announced Ennis as the genuine article that many long considered she would become.

In a British track and field team short of gold medal talent, you have to hope the pressure of an expectant host nation won’t buckle the girl from the Steel City.

"It's been the longest two days of my life but the best two days of my life," said Ennis, who chalked up 6731 points in total - a lifetime best.

"I can't believe it, I feel like crying, I'm the world champion.

“I’m only 23 and I’ve got plenty more years in athletics yet. I’m just wanting to stay injury free for 2012 now.

“Missing last year’s Olympics was terrible but that is forgotten now.

“I didn’t know what shape I’d be in for this year but I’ve gone from strength to strength.”

Ennis led from the first event to the last and even when she was threatened with being overtaken in the dying stages of the 800m, she found the strength to kick again, even though gold was already secure.

If anything underlined her winning instincts, it was that.

“That 800m was just pure nerves, pure adrenaline,” she added.

“I was just trying to hang on and win the gold.

“I knew what times I needed to run and just went off too hard but it was enough.”

WINNING SMILE: Jess Ennis led the heptathlon from the 100m hurdles first event to the 800m that concluded it (Getty Images)

Ennis started the day with a 300 point lead over Olympic champion Nataliya Dobrynska and while it looked an advantage she should defend, this was new and uncharted territory.

She duly produced a nervy long jump performance, leaving her best effort for the final round – a leap of 6.29 metres that was still well down on her personal best.

She also looked tense and unsure in the javelin but again managed to find something, unleashing a 43.54m throw that was respectable if down on her best.

It meant she went into the final event with a healthy advantage but Germany’s Jennifer Oeser was second and being cheered on by a partisan home crowd.

Ennis set off at speed but tired badly in the closing stages, although she still summoned the reserves to finish first. Oeser took silver and Poland’s Kamila Chudzik claimed the bronze.

Twelve months ago a tearful Ennis watched Dobrynska win gold in the Bird’s Nest with feelings of what might have been – this time around it was the Ukrainian who was left with nothing - finishing fourth.

“My parents were not here, they had spent so much money on Beijing that it was difficult for them to come out here financially,” she revealed.

“I totally understand and they’ve support me all the way but my boyfriend Andy is here to cheer me on.

“All the support has been great so it’s not just me who has done it, it’s everyone around me too. They got me here.”

Ennis is due to run in the 100m hurdles on Tuesday but she admitted it might prove too much after the emotion of the last two days.

“At the moment I’m feeling like I don’t want to do anything,” she added.

And few would begrudge her a rest and time to reflect on her golden achievement.