Olympic 800 metres bronze medallist Kelly Holmes is recovering after undergoing a stomach operation.

"I'm fit and well and convalescing," said the 31-year-old who won the Bupa Mile in Newcastle last month.

Holmes' career has been dogged by injury and illness since she first emerged on the international stage in 1993.

The ex-Army sergeant suffered a stress fracture in her leg but still managed to finish fourth in the 800m at the 1996 Olympic Games.

At the 1997 World Championships, an Achilles injury forced her out of the 1500m heats.

The same injury was still plaguing her when she won 1500m silver at the 1998 Commonwealth Games.

And it cost her any chance of a medal in the 1999 World Championships.

Her 800m bronze at last year's Olympics in Sydney was a surprise as she had only recently begun training again after a virus.

It was a similar story at this summer's World Championships but although she made the 800m final, she could not claim a medal.