Double Olympic Gold Medalist Kelly Holmes Talks Olympics, Medals & Injuries!

Namita Nayyar (WF Team)

8 years ago

Kelly Holmes (Dame Kelly Holmes) is one of the fastest athletes that world has ever encountered. Born on the year 1970, April 19 in Hidenborough, Kent, England, she represents herself as British Middle Distance Athlete. Accounting her success, she is the winner of 800 meter and 1500 meter distance run in 2004 Summer Olympics held in Athens. Being one of the major records, she has number of records to her name and in numerous events such as 600, 800, 1000, 1500 meter distance.

At 34, she was the oldest woman to win either the 800m or the 1500m, let alone both of them. Kelly Holmes continues to represent Great Britain’s sporting legacy abroad and campaigns for children’s sport.

Accounting her professional success, she has been awarded with number of gold and silver followed by Bronze medal in number of distance leagues. She has gained gold medals in Commonwealth Games, Olympic Games in 2004 Athens in 800 m and 1500 m.

Holmes’ career was plagued by injuries. Barely recovered from a stress fracture, she placed only fourth in the 800m at the 1996 Atlanta Games. In 2000, a ruptured calf left her only six weeks to train for the Sydney Games. Still, she managed to win a bronze medal in the 800m and placed seventh in the 1500m.

Let us take you through Kelly Holmes’ incredible career and tell you how she manages to still stay fit in an exclusive interview with Namita Nayyar, President Women Fitness.

Ms. Namita Nayyar: You are a middle-distance runner who recovered from injury to claim Double Olympic Gold at the age of 34. Tell us more about your spectacular journey and how it all began?

Ms. Kelly Holmes: I had two dreams since I was 14 and one was to become an Olympic Champion. I was a successful junior international athlete and gave up to join the Army. I had a 12 year career, very successful with 13 international medals, starting with my first Gold at the Commonwealth Games in Victoria, Canada.

I always believed I could be an Olympic Champion. I was tested beyond belief but never gave up the hope and it finally paid off.

All content on this site is copyright of Women Fitness and no part of any article found on this site may be reproduced without an express permission and highlighted, do follow link crediting http://www.womenfitness.net/ or preferably the original page as the source. This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.

Ms. Namita Nayyar: For several years you combined athletics with employment in the Army, where you qualified as a Sergeant Class 1 PTI and became the British Army Judo Champion. How was your life in the army?

Ms. Kelly Holmes: I loved it, I learnt a lot about myself and met some great people. It was challenging and demanding but given I wanted to be in the army since I was 14 it was my first dream come true.

Ms. Namita Nayyar: Introduce us to a day in the life of a track and field athlete, preparing for the Olympic Games.

Ms. Kelly Holmes: Six days a week, two times a day.
Massage of physio
Ice baths
Power-naps
Warm up, drills, training session, cool down and stretching.
In fact it became everything to think about and consumes your day and life.

Ms. Namita Nayyar: What exercises comprise your fitness regime or workout routine that you may like to share?

Ms. Kelly Holmes: I have started cycling so trying to make the transition has been tough as I have been a runner all my life so these days I have increased my cycling. I do quite a bit of strengthening exercises to strengthen my legs and lower back. I like doing plank and HIIT training. I still run and do the park runs on a Saturday which great.

Videos

Ms. Namita Nayyar: Do you take some special diet or have a strict menu that you follow to remain healthy and physically fit?

Ms. Kelly Holmes: I believe in balance. I increase my protein intake when I have been training hard. I could be better than I am at drinking water as it is important but I think my body has adapted. Recovery is key so eating after a workout is essential.

Ms. Namita Nayyar: How did you feel before and after winning your first Olympic medal in the 800 m at the 2000 Sydney Olympics?

Ms. Kelly Holmes: It was amazing to get a bronze medal as I only had six weeks of running as I had been injured all year. I knew I was still fit but I was so pleased just to make selection for the team and then my aim was to get through the heads and semi finals. I couldn’t believe I got a bronze medal.

Ms. Namita Nayyar: Who has been your greatest influence and motivator in your success in the field of your career?

Ms. Kelly Holmes: My PE teacher Debbie Page was the person who first believed in me and got me into Athletics. My first coach Dave Arnold was the person who guided me. Seb Coe was my hero and watching him win a 1500M Gold medal when I was 14 is what set my dreams of becoming an Olympic Champion.

Ms. Namita Nayyar: You have won numerous awards and were appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 2005. How did you feel after receiving such a great honor?

Ms. Kelly Holmes: It was an incredible honour and I am so grateful to have been recognised for my long and successful career.

Videos

Ms. Namita Nayyar: You suffered from various injuries in 1995, failing to gain a medal at your first Olympics in Atlanta 1996. How were you able to cope up with them and come back strong in the 1998 Commonwealth Games and 2000 Sydney Olympics?

Ms. Kelly Holmes: It was a hard time, in fact every injury was a blow as it was a setback I never needed. I came 4th in Atlanta with a stress fracture, it was heart-breaking but in a way made me strong to think that I could have medalled if I had not been injured.

I came back in 1997 strong and became the fastest 1500M woman in the world by 5 seconds but again suffered an injury at the world championships where I ruptured my calf muscle and tore my Achilles.

Getting medals in 1998 and 2000 was through determination to succeed and refusing to give in to injury.

Ms. Namita Nayyar: You participated as a contestant in the 2015 series of Bear Grylls: Mission Survive and were the runner-up after the 12-day survival mission. Share with us your experience on the show.

Ms. Kelly Holmes: I loved it, I hated it. What an experience, meeting Bear, surviving in the jungle and interacting with people who are not people I would normally hang out with in my everyday life. I hated the water tasks, all of them. Jumping out of a helicopter was one of the scariest things I have ever done as I hate water and especially jumping from a height, but nearly drowning was extremely frightening. I was lucky the support team were there to help.

I love the nature, learning new skill and the team and Bear were fab to work with.

Ms. Namita Nayyar: Advice and motivational words to the inspiring and budding track and field athletes who all are your fans, they shall like to know from you, what they should do for their climb to ladder of success in this field?

Ms. Kelly Holmes: To get better takes long term planning and short term delivery. Train effectively and ensure you think as much about your recovery and nutrition as you do the training.

Even if you are injured you can train, you just have to adapt the training so that you maintain your strength, fitness, cardio, etc without affecting the area that needs to repair.

Ms. Namita Nayyar: What you wish to say about the website Womenfitness.net and message for its visitors?

Ms. Kelly Holmes: Great site with insightful stories of women who like to look after themselves. We all have to make our own choices in life to look after our health and fitness regime, so take inspiration from those that are committed to themselves so that you can commit to yourself.

To know the latest about Kelly Holmes follow her on social media:

Women Fitness Team thanks Kelly Holmes for giving her valuable time for this interview and quenching the thirst of her fans to know more about her.

Videos