Jessica Ennis-Hill slams ‘archaic’ gender hole in sport as ‘ladies are ignored’

Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill has slammed sport over its “archaic” attitude to female athletes.

The Olympic champion, 38, spoke out on the gender data gap in sport after it was revealed just 6% of studies focus exclusively on female participants. She explained to Women’s Health UK: “Honestly, it’s so bizarre; until you actually start delving into it, you can’t believe it’s happened.

“The lack of studies and research – and it’s all done on men – it just seems so archaic.

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“There are so many examples of women not being understood or being ignored. And that’s through a lack of research… and a lack of funding.”

The London 2012 star – who retired in 2016 – also highlighted how women’s health issues are ignored in the sports world.

She added: “It’s still quite a male-dominated area [in] a lot of sports with coaches and practitioners. And it can also be an uncomfortable environment to have that conversation.

“I think a lot of athletes feel like it’s a weakness as well to say, ‘Oh, actually, my period has changed,’ or, ‘My energy levels are up and down.’”

Earlier this year the Sheffield-born athlete – who won gold in the heptathlon at the Olympics in 2012 – revealed she was fed liquidised tripe as a toddler.

The full interview and video are available to Women’s Health Collective members now on the WH app, or read it in the magazine from 2nd July