Kelly Holmes started a career in athletics, winning 1500-metre races in Junior and senior level titles, but quit athletics when she turned 18 to join the army. Inspired from watching one of her past competitors Lisa York win the 3000-m at the Summer Olympics, Kelly decided to give athletics another shot. Kelly Holmes worked in the army for a few more years to save enough money to become a full time athlete.

In 2003, Kelly Holmes successfully returned to what she does best and trained for the 2004 Summer Olympics. Although Kelly suffered from several leg injuries while training at a French camp, making her unable to compete at the Summer Olympics, she quickly healed in time for the Athens Olympics. There, Kelly Holmes won the 800-meter and 1,500-meter races, competing against world champions like Maria de Lurder Mutola and Tatyana Tomashova. Kelly made her country proud by becoming the first British woman to win two Olympic gold medals and the first double-gold medalist in the same event.

Holmes’ achievements at the Olympics led to several recognitions and awards. After 40,000 people welcomed Kelly Home in September 2004, she later received an award for the “BBC Sports Personality of the Year,” was honored by a Laureus British Empire “Sportswoman of the Year” award and was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire by the Queen. While Kelly Holmes has gained celebrity status from her Olympic achievements, which led to a guest-appearance at the yearly British game show “The Big Fat Quiz of the Year,” Holmes remained humble and has been helping young athletes become winners on her own program, “On Camp with Kelly.”

Kelly Holmes announced her retirement in December 6, 2005, citing a lack of motivation to continue. In 2006, she appeared on the dancing contest “Dancing on Ice” and served as a substitute sports newscaster for the BBC London News the following year. She also helped in opening the new sports centre at Ernest Bevin College and has appeared on the TV show, “Five’s Superstars.”