Kelly: I don't fear my rivals

14 April 2012

Kelly Holmes is on course for a historic golden double. In her latest exclusive interview with Standard Sport, the Olympic 800 metres champion reveals how she is tired but determined to fulfil her lifelong dream by winning the 1500m final in Athens tomorrow.

"Five down, one to go and you have to believe me when I say I'm not thinking about any golden double," she said. "My 800m gold medal sits on my bed in the Village and I can't stop stroking it. It's going to be worn out by the time I get home but I can't let myself entertain the thought of another at the moment.

"You're going to think it sounds really daft but my first thought now I've got to tomorrow's final is just that I want to finish higher than seventh. That's the highest position I've ever finished in an Olympic 1500m final, in Sydney, and I was 11th in Atlanta. To beat seventh would be a great personal achievement.

"Of course, though, I want to run for a medal but I haven't taken any notice of what's being said and written about 'the double' because in a way it's still a personal thing to me, just something I've always wanted for myself, a passionate dream.

"My friends and family have been so excited for me but they've been great in just letting me get on with the next stage of my competition. They won't be coming across to watch the final. It's quite expensive and anyway, my mum doesn't like flying these days. She can't stop waffling over there. She's talking to everyone and tells me 'I'm bloody knackered doing all this media stuff '. She sounds as if she might be even more tired than me.

"I am tired but I feel great and I'm still in one piece. It has been hard to get the adrenalin up after the 800 because it takes a lot out of you. I was a bit apprehensive about last night's semi, a really hard heat. I think the others tried to take it out a bit faster because they knew I can kick but I ended up feeling better than I thought I would.

"Actually, it was easier last night than the first round when it felt really hard to come back from the 800m. Not physically, but psychologically, I thought the first round contest was the toughest, coming the day after the final. I think it's helped having a rest day in between my heats and the semis and between the semis and the final. Three races in a row? I'm not sure that I'd have coped with that.

"And I can't afford to celebrate yet too. I've got to keep going, get my feet back on the ground and refocus on the final. I just don't know what to expect any more, after winning an 800m gold that seemed so unlikely. Bizarre things seem to be happening. Like after I'd won the 800, when I was going off to do my warm down and then the presentation, it was Seb Coe I bumped into and who helped me take off my spikes.

"I can't say how strange it was to have my childhood hero kneeling down and taking my spikes off for me. It's encouraging to hear now, though, that he believes I can do the double.

"Looking towards the final, there's no particular rival there I fear. I respect all of them 100 per cent. Margo Jennings, my coach, went through the names of the finalists last night, all good ones, and that was enough. I don't need to look at the list any more, I just have to look at myself now.

"It would be great if the last British athletes to perform here could come up with another couple of medals. I've seen Paula Radcliffe around in the Village and she's been in great spirits. Just getting out there for her tonight would be a massive achievement and if she's back to her best, she will be unbeatable.

That's the great thing about Paula. She's like me: we're fighters and she won't give up easily. That's the only prediction I can make. That we'll give it 110 per cent once again to make everyone proud."

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