In the Athens Olympics in August 2004, Kelly Holmes made the record books. In six days, the 34-year-old athlete had won two gold Olympic medals for the 800 metres and the 1500 metres, setting a new British record and becoming the first Briton for 84 years to achieve the Olympic middle-distance double.
Kelly Holmes was born in Pembury, Kent to a Jamaican-born father and English mother, who later divorced and remarried. She began athletics training at 12-years-old and won the National Schools 1500 metres in her second season. But, despite her obvious talent, Kelly turned her back on athletics at 18, when she joined the army. She rose to the rank of sergeant, also becoming British Army judo champion.
In 1992 she returned to the track, finding immediate success as national champion in the 800 metres in 1993 and taking the 1500 metre title a year later. In spite of injury and illness, Kelly was determined to realise her potential and in 2002 she went to live and train in South Africa with the world's foremost 800 metre runner, Marion Mutola. In Athens in 2004, Kelly took the title from her.
In December 2004 Kelly's astonishing year continued as she was presented with the BBC Sport Personality of the Year award, and became Dame Kelly Holmes in the New Years' Honours List.
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