News22 Apr 2005


Holmes’ career to climax in Helsinki?

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Kelly Holmes signals her win in Glasgow (© Getty Images)

Double Olympic gold medallist Kelly Holmes admitted yesterday that she would very likely end her senior international track career where she won her first medal 11 years ago: Helsinki.

Since winning gold medals at 800 and 1500 metres at the Athens Games last year, Holmes has been inundated with numerous awards - 26 at the last count, most recently the athlete of the year award from the AIPS, the international sports journalists' association.

But following her 35th bithday earlier this week, Holmes - who won a 1500m silver medal when the European Championships were staged in Helsinki in 1994 - conceded that this would be her final track season, with just a possibility of her continuing through to next March in order to defend her 1500m title at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

But since capturing her historic Olympic double, Holmes has repeatedly admitted she has struggled to find motivation.

"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 said.

"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."

What Holmes has yet to decide is what events she might compete at in Helsinki. Whether she will contest the 800, 1500 or both at the World Championships is a judgment which will depend on how she races at the British trials and then at the London Grand Prix, her last competitive outing before she is due to fly to the Finnish capital.

Holmes has never claimed a world title, settling for two silvers and a bronze.

But she is already being realistic about her chances of matching her Athens achievements. "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.

"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.

"The World Championships is a target for everybody and that's also my goal.

"My commitment is still to athletics. My incentive is to carry on and be the best athlete I can this year and until I decide to hang up my spikes - which I haven't yet - while I'm performing.

"I'll give every race my best shot this season, just like I always have done. Training is going well. Today, I was up at 6am doing my hill sessions. My main priority is still my athletics."

Steven Downes for the IAAF

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