Kelly Holmes
(IOC)
Updated: 2007-07-27 08:59
Athens, 26 ao?t 2004, Games of the XXVIII Olympiad. Women's athletics: Kelly HOLMES of Great Britain competes in the the 1500m semifinal. Credit: Getty Images/Clive Brunskill
Born: 19 April 1970
Birthplace: Pembury (United Kingdom)
Nationality: United Kingdom
Sport: Athletics
ATTENDANCE AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES
Atlanta 1996
Sydney 2000
Athens 2004
AWARDS
Olympic medals:
Gold: 2
Bronze: 1
Peaking at the Age of 34
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.
Only three years later, she earned two medals at the 1995 world championships, a bronze in the 800m and a silver in the 1,500m. But Holmes' career was plagued by injuries. Barely recovered from a stress fracture, she placed only fourth in the 800m at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. 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 1,500m.
Finally, in 2004, she entered the Olympics in perfect shape. In the final of the 800m, Holmes moved past defending champion Maria Mutola coming out of the last turn and then held off the late surges of Hasna Benhassi and Jolanda Ceplak. The finish was so close that Holmes did not know that she had won; but she did by five hundredths of a second.
Five nights later, she took to the track in the final of the 1,500m. Seventh with a lap to go and fifth a half lap from the finish, Holmes burst into the lead around the final turn and earned her second gold medal. At 34, she is the oldest woman to win either the 800m or the 1,500m, much less both of them.
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