Kelly Holmes: an Olympian on life beyond the finish line
No not at all. I certainly wouldn’t want to be there performing. I’d like to be fitter than I am now but I’d have to do the training so that’s not going to happen! I will miss the camaraderie with the British team, the buzz and hype surrounding the Games and the feeling that you’re there with other athletes competing at such a high level.
All the feelings you go through: you get so apprehensive, so nervous you’re just constantly thinking ‘what’s the outcome going to be, am I going to achieve my ultimate aim?’ There’s so much focus and discipline. It’s great when you’re at something like the Olympics, don’t get me wrong. It’s brilliant to have that feeling of going for something really big. I think if I hadn’t achieved what I did I’d have a different view of things but I have nothing to prove to myself on that front anymore.
I think we’ve got a chance to pick up lots of medals right across the sports. One that I’m really interested in is Vicky Pendleton in the cycling. She’s already World Champion from earlier this year in Manchester. She’s a really great girl, very focused and if she performs at her best she will bring back a medal.
In athletics, Kelly Sotherton is looking at the gold this year, with her main rivals Carolina Kluft and Jessica Ennis not competing.
Phillips Odowu in triple jump is world number one at the moment. As long as he keeps his head, goes there and just treats it like another meeting, he’ll do very well. He’s always shown so much promise over the years but not always delivered on the big stage.
There’s been a lot of talk about Beijing – the pollution, the demonstrations that marred the torch relay. Are you confident all that will be forgotten once the Games are underway?
I think so. Whenever any country is highlighted there’s always something that will create a story in the media. From an athlete’s point of view, no one chooses where the Games go. You get told where it is, you dedicate your life to it. All your focus, commitment and determination is directed at that one goal and so you’re just concentrating on the Games.
Any of the negative stuff is really about people politically sorting that out an earlier time and not letting it overshadow the Games. I hope from a Games point of view and sports point of view that it is a really fantastic event. There’s always going to be something negative that comes up but hopefully we’ll be able to concentrate on the big performances.
It’s so important. Young people need to see it and think it’s achievable. Sometimes things seem so far away but when you’re genuinely inspired by something it can seem so much more real so it’s important that we continue to have those inspirational figures.
Of course. There’s always going to be high-profile cases that come up and, actually, when something positive comes out of that, it sets a big precedent. I’m sure now that people right across the world are looking and thinking about what it is we need to do to make sure the positives in sport are talked about and not just the negatives. You can only do that when you take a strong stance on things and I think that’s what’s started to happen.
There are some really talented kids out there. I’ve been around schools and events up and down the country and seen loads of kids that are into sport, the arts and dance – and they’re just amazing. These are the kinds of kids that should be shouted about a bit more. And actually, if those teenagers that are doing really good things were brought into the public domain a bit more maybe some of those that are disengaged and disadvantaged would look at them and think ‘well, actually, I could do something with my life’. It comes down the question of role models. Our peers are probably the strongest role models that anyone can have. Clearly something needs to be done about those who are getting in trouble but, equally, the ones that are doing well need to be given a pat on the back.
Do you have a fitness regime you currently stick to?
I exercise regularly but I do a variety of different things nowadays. I play squash, I get on my bike, go for the odd run, and I do Pilates.
I’ve never really followed a strict diet. I’ve always been quite balanced. I used to look at what I ate in terms of energy and alertness when I was competing and I’ve kind of kept to those principles – eating in moderation, eating a good breakfast. I know about the benefits of fruit and vegetables, carbohydrates and proteins but equally, I know that if I eat the odd bad thing it’s not going to do me any harm.
When I was competing I tended to eat little and often. Nowadays, breakfast is definitely my most important meal of the day because I tend to be so busy throughout the day I sometimes don’t get a proper chance to eat. I’d typically have Bran Flakes or Special K, fruit – I like my berries – orange juice, and sometimes toast.
What is your favourite food indulgence?
Thai, Chinese, chocolate! I do love chocolate but I know when I’ve had enough and when I need to start exercising a bit more and I know to eat it in moderation and have it like a treat. I generally eat healthily and exercise as well, so it’s fine. It’s those who have sedentary lifestyles, that don’t eat healthily and only eat junk that have got the problems – health-wise and body image wise. I’m quite happy with my body image so I don’t mind having the odd chocolate bar.
What advice would you give to women who feel a bit self-conscious about taking up sport?
Finding a friend to go with you is a good way because you’ve then got someone to talk to and who understands what you are going through. But you can also have a bit of a laugh about it as well. There’s nothing worse than thinking you want to do something but not knowing where to start or being embarrassed about it.
The full interview can be found on www.ivillage.co.uk/olympics where more is exposed.
