Dame Kelly Holmes

Double Olympic Gold Medallist

Although she showed early promise as a runner, Kelly Holmes gave up the sport to join the army at the age of 18 and become British army judo champion. She returned to competitive athletics after watching the 1992 Olympics on television

When Dame Kelly Holmes made history at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens she achieved something that only 2 other women in the world have ever achieved and became the second British athlete to win 2 middle distance Gold Medals at the same Games in over 80 years.

Before this historic victory launched her into the public eye, Dame Kelly’s career had been one filled with injuries and disappointments, however her dedication and determination to achieve her lifelong dream saw her overcome all of this and realise her dream not once but twice.

Dame Kelly imparts key information from her life as a Physical Training Instructor in the British Army, her Athletics Career and her role as The National School Sport Champion. These presentations are equally effective at large team building sessions and sales conferences through to strategic retreats and change management sessions.

Her experiences make her an ideal speaker, she gives her audience invaluable information and keeps everybody entertained with her natural humour and charm.

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.

 

Achievements

1994 Gold Commonwealth Games 1500m
Silver European Championships 1500m
2000 Bronze 800m Olympic Games
2001 Silver 800m Goodwill Games
2002 Gold 1500m Commonwealth Games and Bronze 800m European Championships
2003 Silver 1500m World Indoor Championships and British record of 4:02:66
Silver in the 800m Outdoor World Championships
2004 European record at 1000m indoors 2:32.96
DOUBLE OLYMPIC GOLD – 800m and 1500m
Won BBC Sports Personality of the Year
European Athlete of the Year 2004
2005 Honoured with a Damehood by the Queen in the New Year’s Honours
Winner of the Laureus World Sports Woman of the Year Award.