Jessica Ennis-Hill said she was shocked yesterday by the abuse she received on social media for voicing her disapproval of Sheffield United re-signing convicted rapist Ched Evans.

Upon hearing the news that United had accepted a request from the Professional Footballers Association to allow Evans to train with the club following his release from prison, the Olympic heptathlon champion said she would want her name removed from the stand at Bramall Lane.

The 28-year-old then received threatening messages she read on Twitter last month, with one vile user writing that he hoped Evans raped Ennis-Hill.

Speaking to the BBC, she said: “It was definitely a shock. It was not very nice to read them but unfortunately that’s the world we live in.

“You kind of have to keep focused on who you are and what you believe in and try not to read too much into it.

“You can’t spend hours going through your Twitter feed and reading everything every single person says to you. You need to get on with your life.”

A number of club patrons stepped down from their positions at the club after finding out the League One side would allow their former striker to train with them.

TV presenter Charlie Webster and musician Paul Hunter both distanced themselves from the club and with Ennis-Hill also looking to walk away, the offer from the club was withdrawn.

“I knew I was in a position where I was going to upset someone whether I said something or didn’t,” Ennis-Hill said. “With my stand at Sheffield United and the association I have with the club, I really just wanted to voice my opinion.

“It wasn’t about putting pressure on the club or anything like that — it was just simply about how I felt. I think people can be rehabilitated and if they have served time in jail can go back into society but I just feel that when you are in a really privileged position it’s quite different.”

Next up for Ennis-Hill is the 2016 Olympics in Rio but she admitted that she needs to get back into competitive shape, after giving birth to her son in July, if she is to stand any chance of defending her title.

“It’s hard getting up when you have not had much sleep but I really want to have this last push in my career,” she said of her return to training. “I’m looking forward to the Olympics, I really want to be there and want to be a contender and that’s what keeps me motivated.

“London 2012 was fantastic and it will be very hard to top, but if I am able to get work done and get to Rio and win a gold medal having had a child, that would be unbelievable.”