Dame Kelly Holmes
Sporting icon and Double Olympic champion
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About Dame Kelly Holmes
Kelly Holmes is a worldwide female sporting icon and Double Olympic champion. She is only the third female athlete to win both 800m and 1500m Gold at the same Olympics. Her speeches are both hugely motivating and inspirational. Her strength and courage has won her many fans both within the sport and outside of it. She is not only known for her medals and records, but is also known for her gutsy, committed approach to her athletics. In addition, her ability to overcome injury and illness and still stay at the top of her discipline.
Dame Kelly Holmes started her athletics career as a promising athlete when a junior and won the 1,500m at the English Schools Championships, but chose to give up her early athletics career in favour of a career in the army. She signed up a few months before her 18th Birthday and over the next 9 ½ years worked her way quickly up the ranks until she was a Sergeant. She joined with the aim of making Officer rank, but once she started to run again, initially for the forces, and started to win major titles she faced a really tough decision – army or running. In 1997 she took the massive step and left the army and made athletics her focus and career.
Her desire to be the best demands that she gives 100%, something she does in everything she takes on. She has the fundamental element for success – the ability to be focused.
She was awarded the MBE in 1998 for services to the British Army and was honoured by the Queen in the 2005 New Year’s honours with a Damehood.
Kelly retired from competition in the autumn of 2005 but remains heavily involved in the sport, running her On Camp with Kelly initiative where she mentors a group of promising junior international female athletes.
Among her many activities Kelly has also written her autobiography, Black, White & Gold; appeared in the Celebrity TV Series, Dancing on Ice; and has been appointed by the government as the first National School Sport Champion.
