 | Born: April 19th 1970 Events: 800m & 1500m Coach: Margo Jennings 800m honours: Olympic gold (2004), bronze (2000), World silver (2003), bronze (1995), European silver (1994), bronze (2002) 1500m honours: Olympic gold (2004), Commonwealth gold (1994/2002), silver ('98) World silver ('95), World Indoor silver ('03) |
Dame Kelly Holmes will make her British track farewell at August's Grand Prix meeting in Sheffield. "This will be my last track season on British soil," said Holmes. "Sheffield will be my last track race in the UK."
She has yet to confirm she will compete at this year's World Championships in Helsinki - or whether she will run both the 800m and 1500m if she does.
The double Olympic champion also said her last-ever event could be the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.
Since capturing an historic 800m and 1500m Olympic double in Athens, Holmes has repeatedly admitted she has struggled to find motivation ahead of the new season.
Signs of her waning ambition started to show when she opted out of the compulsory trials for the European Indoor Championships - a decision which cost her a �25,000 fine.
And the Kent-born athlete admits she is no longer driven by a hunger to attain more personal success.
"If you look at my career, I've won 13 medals from Commonwealth Games, World Championships, Europeans and Olympic Games so I've got nothing to prove to myself or anybody else," Holmes told BBC Sport.
"I've achieved my dreams so now I'm in a position to say, 'well I can do what I want.'
"At some stage it has to come to an end and I have to be satisfied I have made my own decision.
"The reception I get when I step onto the track is so amazing, it's such a buzz and at the minute that's what is driving me.
"Being announced as Olympic champion, enjoying the atmosphere and the support that is what I'm looking forward to for the rest of this season."
Holmes will race all four Norwich Union outdoor events in Glasgow, Manchester, London and Sheffield.
But before Holmes makes her final farewells to her supporters on home soil there is still the small matter of the World Championships which begin in Helsinki on 6 August.
The double Olympic champion has not claimed a world title, settling for two silvers and a bronze, and has a real chance to add a global title to her collection.
Holmes has not ruled out doubling up if she decides to compete at the worlds - although she doubts she will be able to match her golden success in Athens.
"I don't think I'll be emulating what happened in Athens," Holmes said. "But whether I will ever double up again is another question.
"I'll be doing a combination of both events this season but I'm not expecting to win everything now.
 Holmes takes a training session at 'Camp Kelly' for young British runners |
"The focus is to do all the races in the UK and to get back out enjoying my running.
"Then if I'm fit enough to do the worlds and I think I have a great chance of a medal I'll go. If not, I won't."
Holmes remains uncertain about where her future lies when she finally hangs up her spikes.
But the double Olympic champion has already decided she wants to do more to inspire the next generation of athletes, after setting up a scheme to advise eight junior British internationals.
"It's hard to make plans because I haven't really stopped since the Olympics," admitted Holmes.
"But one of my plans is to keep going helping these young athletes and passing on my experience.
"The eights girls I'm mentoring should be the ones who break through for the 2012 Olympics.
"Middle distance running is the strongest it's ever been in Britain at the moment and I think we'll have some great athletes in the future."
MMIX
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If I'm fit enough to do the worlds and I think I have a great chance of a medal I'll go. If not, I won't
