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| Sheffield celebrates Jessica Ennis Olympic gold medal | Sheffield celebrates Jessica Ennis Olympic gold medal |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Up to 20,000 people gathered in Sheffield city centre to welcome home Olympic champion Jessica Ennis. | |
| The gold-medal winning heptathlete took to a stage to greet the packed crowd of 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." | 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. | 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. | Ennis said: "I cannot believe how many people are here. It goes all the way back. |
| Sheffield's streets filled for a glimpse of its golden girl. | |
| The rain didn't stop crowds gathering hours before the event to celebrate her gold medal. | |
| Young and old stood proudly in patriotic colours and flashes of gold glinted in the crowd. | |
| From DIY gold medals to frizzy, sparkling comedy wigs, golden touches lit up the event. | |
| Meanwhile, her mother and father stood quietly and took in the scene. | |
| Strangers who had never met the athlete but had seen Jess on TV shed tears and swelled with local pride. | |
| Any mention of Jess's name produced a forest of hand-made placards and union flags. | |
| Sheffield was in seventh heaven. | |
| "It's a beautiful city with amazing facilities and this is my home and the place I love. | |
| "Thank you so much to every single one of you here. | |
| "If I could thank you all individually, I would. There are so many of you. You've been incredible - not just these past few weeks, but the past few years. | |
| "You've always been there to support me. I can't thank you enough." | |
| 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. | 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. | 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". | Julie Dore, the leader of Sheffield Council, said the event was "more than special" and put Sheffield on the "international stage". |
| 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." | 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. | 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." | "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. | 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. |