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Viewer discretion advised. Themes include self harm. |
The last person who should be doubting your performance is yourself.
With one conversation, Col Dame Kelly Holmes’ life was saved. It was in 2003, the height of her career. Within a year, Holmes would become an Olympic champion, with gold medals for 800m and 1500m. Her life has been defined as much by the titanic struggles within the square lines of the running track, as outside it. Holmes is as legendary for her personal tale as for her records still held in the 600m, 800m and 1000m.
Hailing from Kent, her love of sports was a lifeline throughout Holmes’ schooling days. It was the thread Holmes pulled that lifted her out of a system that failed to understand her, and into the physical challenges of the British Army. Just 17, the young recruit with outstanding physical prowess would go on to become the first British woman to be made honorary Colonel of the British Army.
These highs marked Holmes’ life, but for years she kept the lows at bay. Although the importance of self-empowerment, team building, and self-care were core pillars of her training, all were pushed to the side by problems of injury, disappointment, and mental health issues.
Kelly’s natural spirit, the sparkle in her eyes that attests to a fire within, lies at the basis of her survival. With enthusiasm and energy, she was able to channel focus, self-belief, and individuality to overcome all challenges—from outside, and within.
