Diary
March 2009 update
March 2009 update
I held my first Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust ‘Harnessing Talent’ conference at Leeds Metropolitan University on 24th-25th march.
I opened the event with the following words:
’Nothing, but nothing, will ever compare with the nerves and excitement I felt when I stood on the start line of my Olympic finals. But today, as I host the first of my new Trust’s events for retiring athletes I do feel a certain sense of anticipation.
Goodness knows what would have happened if I had not won those two gold medals. With other successes in Athens in cycling and rowing, anything less than then a gold would have relegated me to a few lines in the sports pages, with athletics writers lamenting the loss of track and field’s golden age.
But fortunately for me, my fate was different and I overcame all the “nearly” moments of an injury dogged career to stand on the rostrum as a champion and instead of “if only”, I achieved what I had been hoping to do all my life: become Olympic champion. Actually more than even I could have dreamt of. I became a double Olympic champion.
As I stood on the podium, it really was the culmination of everything, the highest point in a journey that took years to reach, through which I gained many different skills, experiences and insights into what it takes to be your best, and learned finally how to triumph in the face of adversity.
Since that day I have continued to use these skills and begin to forge a new career. I have been lucky. Opportunities have come my way and I have been able to begin that transition through the twilight world of not being an elite athlete anymore, but not quite knowing what you are either is pretty tough.
It’s a hard process because you lose your identity and as an elite performer like I was, there are literally hundreds of others who worked just as hard as me but whom don’t always get the opportunities you do if you are in the limelight. Many get used, (and a few get abused!) In little deals or bits of work here and there, but all share the same struggle of post career blues.
These sports people know so much, have huge amounts of different experiences, strong characteristics and skills that can be of hugh benefit to others and yet when they finish competing many have an enormous void to fill in their lives. I have talked to a lots in many different sports about this, learning from their own stories. And for every person I have spoken to, the journey from elite performer to a new life is a tough one: emotionally, physically, psychologically and financially.
To me it is a travesty that we have not made the most of these people’s skills in a systematic and developmental way and that is why I have set up the Dame Kelly Holmes (DKH Legacy Trust). It’s core purpose is to harness expertise and talents of retired and retiring sports performers to realise the talents in others; in sport, in education and for some, in business.
We are providing general support, professional career development and mentoring opportunities for these ex-sports performers as they grapple with finding a new pathway and future, a new life, a new sense of identity, that builds on who they are and does not leave their ambitions gathering dust in the trophy cabinet.
We have got off to a good start, bringing on the support of BT who as 2012 Olympic sponsor have decided to invest in my Trust and support the Backing Talent programme we have been running already, a project which has already enabled some retired performers to work with up and coming talent in East of London.
But today is a first, where we are bringing together over 50 ex-performers for a two day conference focused on helping them find and harness their own talents. We are working with many National Governing Bodies of Sport, various business to develop ways that will enable more retiring sports stars to play a role in a range of ways, and I am delighted that Jennie Price from Sport England is supporting us.
So, we are on the start line. Has it been easy getting here? No way! Are we ready? Oh yes! Will we last the race? I don’t give up that easily remember!
I believe our retiring sports people can play a big role in sport and in inspiring young people and that is my part in giving back to my peers and also to the world of sport which, because of my own journey helped me become who I am today.’
Click here to read more about the 2-day event on my DKH Legacy trust website.
Earlier this month…
On Saturday 22nd we started a Trust’s fundraising campaign with a raceday event at Lingfield park.
Click here to learn more about the afternoon on my DKH Legacy trust website.
I was on the BBC Daily Politics Show on the 18th, to talk about the need for London 2012 legacy and the role that my Trust can play in it.
Click here to watch my interview or even catchup with the whole show if you have missed it.
On Wednesday 11th, we held an ‘On Camp with Kelly’ media day at London Battersea park’s track, where I was joined by 6 of my OCWK athletes: Charlotte Best, Tara Bird, Dani Christmas, Hannah England, Alison Leonard and Emma Pallant.
Click here for a short video.
Click here to read more about the day on my ‘On Camp with kelly’ website.
On the 2nd March I agreed to become an Ambassador for Beyond Sport, an organisation that seeks to celebrate and support people who drive positive change through sport.
Click here for more info on Beyond Sport website.
Speak soon!
Kelly x