Athlete
Kelly had a 12 year International Athletic career, setting numerous records and holds British records in the 600m, 800, and 1,000m till this day. She is an Olympic, World, Commonwealth, and European multi-medallist. After her Olympic success, winning Gold in both the 800m and 1,500m Athens Olympics in 2004, she won BBC Sports Personality of the Year, European Athlete of the Year, World Athlete of the Year and was honoured with Dame Commander of the British Empire from the Queen.
British Army
At 17, Kelly joined the British Army, becoming a fully qualified HGV driver and Physical Training Instructor with an Army career spanning 10 years. She was awarded an MBE for services to the British Army in 1998. In 2018, Kelly was appointed Honorary Colonel of the Royal Armoured Corps, marking her return to the army. She is the first and only person to date to be made an Honorary Colonel attached to a regular Army unit: a post signed off by HM The Queen and a change in Army policy. Her appointment makes her the only Colonel Dame in the world.
International Speaker
Kelly Holmes is an inspirational and talented speaker who is in very high demand and booked across the world – she is energetic, motivational, and real. Her speeches cover many areas, including her life journey to becoming a Double Olympic Champion, her experiences within the British Army, business, fitness, mental health and wellbeing, articulating incredible stories of determination, resilience and overcoming adversity. As an accomplished keynote conference speaker, Kelly also speaks on topics such as empowerment, pivotal change, team ethics, diversity and reaching full potential for all.
Mental Health Champion and Charitable work
Kelly is passionate about raising awareness of mental health. Her own experience led her to learn more and to help others. A trained Mental Health First Aider, she assists corporates and individuals through her commercial work and her charitable activities in raising awareness on this subject. After chairing for 8 years, she carries on being President of the charity she founded in 2018, the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust, for which she won a Beacon award for philanthropy in 2017.
Fitness and Wellbeing
Kelly is a level 3 diploma qualified fitness instructor. She is passionate about motivating people to get fitter and more active for both their physical and mental health. She has built a concept ‘Military in Motion’ which aims to get people to believe they can be better than they think they can.