Jessica Ennis wins Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year 2012

Olympic champion Jessica Ennis scooped the overall Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year Award last night, following her inspiring performances in the heptathalon this year.

Ennis managed to set three personal bests and beat her own British record points total before securing a gold medal for Great Britain in the London 2012 Olympics.

Now in their 25th year, the Sportswomen of the Year Awards are among the most influential in the sporting calendar.

The event was supported by the Sport and Recreation Alliance, UK Sport, Sport England and the Women’s Sport and Fitness Foundation (WSFF).

This year saw 25 British women secure medals at the Olympics and a further 18 golds in the Paralympics.

This made picking this year's winners especially tough for the panel consisting of  Sallie Barker (Sport and Recreation Alliance), Amanda Bennett (UK Sport), Sue Tiballs (Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation), Tanya Joseph (Sport England), Jill Douglas (BBC), Eleanor Oldroyd (BBC) and Craig Hunter (Paralympics GB).

The Team of the Year award was presented by the Alliance's chair, Andy Reed OBE.

Winners of the Sunday Times Sportswomen of the Year Awards 2012:

The Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year – Jessica Ennis

Olympian of the Year – Katherine Grainger

Young Olympian of the Year – Jade Jones

Paralympian of the Year – Sarah Storey

Young Paralympian of the Year – Ellie Simmonds

Team of the Year – GB team pursuit cyclists: Dani King, Laura Trott and Joanna Rowsell

Coach of the Year – Jenny Archer

Community Award – Di Redfern

Lifetime Achievement Award – Baroness Sue Campbell

The Helen Rollason Award for Inspiration – Claire Lomas

Read bios of all the winners.