Paul Dickenson dead at 74: BBC commentator who covered Jessica Ennis-Hill’s iconic gold at London 2012 dies

FORMER BBC Sport commentator Paul Dickenson has passed away aged 74.

Dickenson, who specialised in athletics and winter sports for over two decades, died at home on Tuesday.

ALAN TOWSE/FAMOUS

Paul Dickenson has passed away[/caption]

Dickenson worked in commentary for over two decadesAction Images

His death was announced by the BBC on Wednesday evening.

Fans took to social media to pay tribute to the man with an iconic voice.

One person wrote: “Really sad to read that Paul Dickenson has died. One of my favourite commentators of all time, his voice is very much missed.”

While another commented: “Just seen the very sad news that Paul Dickenson has passed away.

“Having grown up listening to him, it took me a while to pluck up the courage to talk to him when I was first starting out but, once I did, he was always very supportive and just great company.”

Dickenson commentated on every Summer and Winter Olympic Games between 1992 and 2014.

He is one of only five BBC commentators to call Team GB gold medals in both the Summer and Winter Olympics.

In 2012 he commentated on Jessica Ennis-Hill‘s iconic gold medal in the Olympic heptathlon.

Reuters

Dickenson commentated on Jessica Ennis-Hill’s heptathlon gold at London 2012[/caption]

PA:Press Association

His final commentary for the BBC was Lizzy Yarnold’s gold at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi[/caption]

His last BBC commentary took place when Lizzy Yarnold won her skeleton gold at Sochi 2014.

Before taking up a role in commentary, Dickenson was an Olympic hammerthrower.

He represented Great Britain at two successive Olympic games starting in 1976.

His best Olympic result was finishing in 14th place that year, where he threw 68.52 metres.

Dickenson also commentated on World’s Strongest Man and Superstars, a TV sports competition.