Ennis, coached by Toni Minichiello, secured 48 per cent of the vote, just four per cent more than that gained by the Olympic 5,000 metres and 10,000m champion.

Earlier this month, Ennis and Farah were named as female and male European Athletes of the Year, and both are shortlisted for the International Association of Athletics Federation's (IAAF) Athlete of the Year award.

After winning silver in the pentathlon at the World Indoor Championships in Istanbul in March, Ennis went on to earn heptathlon gold at the London 2012 Olympic Games to the delight of the 80,000 capacity crowd.

En route to victory Ennis recorded the fastest ever 100m hurdles time in a heptathlon, while also extending her British record with a score of 6,955.

"Thank you to all of the UK Athletics fans for voting me the British Olympic Athlete of the Year – what an honour," the Sheffield athlete said.

"The support of all the athletics fans is so important for us athletes and this year especially – your support at all the events running up to London was so important.

"What a great year 2012 has been."

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