Top 20 most inspirational sportswomen revealed with Brit legend pipping tennis great, BBC hosts and Royal star
BRITAIN’S most inspirational sportswomen have been revealed as Jessica Ennis-Hill, Paula Radcliffe and Dame Kelly Holmes.
A poll of 2,000 fans also saw Alex Scott, Emma Raducanu and Princess Anne in the top ten.
Laura Kenny, Rebecca Adlington and Jill Scott also made the list.
Retired track star Ennis-Hill topped the lot, having won gold at the 2012 Olympics along with her three world championships.
Serena Williams – who retired from tennis last year – was just behind.
Presenters Clare Balding and Gabby Logan also made the list, as did ex-footballer turned pundit Scott.
And England Lioness hero Scott – who captained the country to Euro 2022 success – just came outside the top ten.
A spokesman for Lottoland.co.uk, which commissioned the research to launch its Women’s World Cup sweepstake, said: “There are some really influential women to be found in sport, across many different disciplines.
“But it has to be said that football is having a golden moment right now and it’s brilliant to see.
“What we love most is how many people have taken up a sport of their own after having watched women’s football.
TOP 20 MOST INSPIRATIONAL SPORTSWOMEN
- Jessica Ennis-Hill
- Serena Williams
- Kelly Holmes
- Paula Radcliffe
- Laura Kenny
- Rebecca Adlington
- Venus Williams
- Emma Raducanu
- Princess Anne
- Alex Scott
- Jill Scott
- Nicola Adams
- Sally Gunnell
- Zara Phillips
- Gabby Logan
- Clare Balding
- Simone Biles
- Beth Mead
- Eilish McColgan
- Naomi Osaka
“Not long ago, it was near impossible to catch a female team on the TV so having all of this coverage is clearly making a big difference.
“There’s still a way to go for women’s sport, but seeing the country get behind the World Cup this summer just goes to show that we’re all eager for more – we can’t wait for England’s first game against Haiti.”
The research also found more than a quarter of the names on the top 40 list were female footballers – after 52 per cent of adults watched the Lionesses win the Euros last summer.