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| Sheffield celebrates Jessica Ennis Olympic gold medal | Sheffield celebrates Jessica Ennis Olympic gold medal |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Thousands of people have gathered in Sheffield city centre to welcome home Olympic champion Jessica Ennis. | |
| The gold-medal winning heptathlete took to a stage to greet an estimated 6,000 fans as she was told she was to be handed the freedom of the city. | |
| Ennis, 26, said it was nice to be home but "more than anything it is overwhelming." | |
| Despite heavy rain earlier, people had started to gather two hours before her arrival. | |
| Ennis said: "I cannot believe how many people are here. It goes all the way back. | |
| "It's a beautiful city with amazing facilities and this is my home and the place I love." | |
| The capacity crowd at Barker's Pool meant that as people continued to come into the city centre, late-comers watched events relayed to a second big screen on Fargate. | |
| Trees near Barker's Pool have been sprayed gold and people were also being asked to wear the colour. | |
| Julie Dore, the leader of Sheffield Council, said the event was "more than special" and put Sheffield on the "international stage". | |
| 'Into the stratosphere' | |
| Looking out at the crowd, she said: "It's a sea of gold and I'm just so happy. It's sent us into the stratosphere." | |
| Tony Minichiello, Ennis's coach, said: "This is the end of four years' work, and emotionally it is like falling off the end of a cliff. | |
| "But I've got the best job in the world." | |
| Claire Beckett, from Sheffield, took her two daughters Harley, 16, and Raegan, 10, to stand in the front row to "experience the atmosphere". | Claire Beckett, from Sheffield, took her two daughters Harley, 16, and Raegan, 10, to stand in the front row to "experience the atmosphere". |
| "We don't mind getting wet. It's a bit of fun," said Mrs Beckett. | "We don't mind getting wet. It's a bit of fun," said Mrs Beckett. |
| Harley said she had been inspired by Ennis's achievements. | Harley said she had been inspired by Ennis's achievements. |
| "It shows you can achieve something from nothing. | "It shows you can achieve something from nothing. |
| "It brings it closer to home. Because she lives where we live, it's different." | "It brings it closer to home. Because she lives where we live, it's different." |
| Balm Green, next to the city hall, has been transformed into a mini athletics track where young people can try out their skills on some of the sporting disciplines of the heptathlon. | Balm Green, next to the city hall, has been transformed into a mini athletics track where young people can try out their skills on some of the sporting disciplines of the heptathlon. |
| Surrounding roads are closed for the event. | Surrounding roads are closed for the event. |
| Ennis also unveiled her "Sheffield Legends" plaque, which had been temporarily removed from outside the town hall and painted gold to commemorate her Olympic win. | |