Young UK Athletes enjoy an exclusive training session with Olympic Legend, Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill.

Aspiring young sports people from across the UK were invited to apply to take part in an incredible opportunity, to learn from one of the nation's greatest sporting heroes in her home city of Sheffield.

Hoping to inspire the next generation of athletes, Mattress Online offered seven lucky individuals the chance to be put through their paces in the gym during an one hour HIIT workout session with Olympic gold medallist Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill.

This one-off experience saw the young people aged 14 to 16 train with the heptathlon icon at Firehouse Fitness in Millhouses - and participants had the chance to ask questions about Dame Jessica's journey to Olympic success and find out more about the mindset needed to reach the highest levels of athletic achievement.

The training session took place on Saturday 31st May 2025 in Sheffield, and was a unique opportunity for young athletes to take inspiration from a true British champion.

Selection was tough, with all applications deserving of a place on the day, however the chosen seven stood out for their passion about their sport or discipline, and their eagerness to learn from Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill.

Sharing the opportunity were the following future ‘ones to watch’;

Lydia Eastwood, Scarlett Ashford, Ava Cooper, Kitty Lawrence, Ruby Morgan, Sebastian Ramirez-Capes, and Riley Robertson-Browne. 

Robertson-Browne, 17 and from Luton, was born with a severe combined immunodeficient condition known as SCID - an inherited disorder that affects just 14 babies born per year in England. Riley received a groundbreaking cord blood transplant at only six weeks old at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) which was followed by months of recovery and a near rejection. Still taking long-term antibiotics, Riley now competes in gymnastics, representing Marriotts Gymnastics Club in Stevenage, and has competed at national level in the 2024 British Championships.

Committed Pentathlon athlete and avid netball player, Scarlett Ashford from Doncaster, was struck by just how down to earth the Olympian was - proving that it’s hard work and dedication which could mean a regular girl like her could see success within her discipline - and she realised the importance of certain exercises for explosive speed which she has now incorporated into her training regime.  Scarlett loved hearing about the sporting progress of the others training within the session too, which she found inspiring and gave her an added determination to find that level of success herself!

The session was the result of a winning auction bid placed by Mr Adams during a charity ball held in benefit of Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity, for whom Dame Jessica is a patron.