Dame Kelly Holmes to run 2016 Virgin Money London Marathon

Double Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes is taking on the challenge of 26.2 miles when she lines up at the start of the 2016 Virgin Money London Marathon on Sunday 24 April.

Holmes triumphed in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens where she won gold in the 800m and the 1500m. She is Britain’s most successful female middle distance runner and still holds the British records for both 800m and 1500m. Other achievements during her great career include Olympic bronze in the 800m in the 2000 Games in Sydney, two silver medals at World Championships and two Commonwealth Games gold medals.

She was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 2004 and was made a Dame when she retired from competition in 2005.

Now aged 45 (she will turn 46 on 19 April, five days before the marathon), Holmes will be running to raise money for four charities:

• The Dame Kelly Holmes Trust, which supports athletes as they transition from sport and uses their skills and experience to transform the lives of disadvantaged young people through mentoring programmes
• Myeloma UK, as her mother is going through treatment for this plasma cell cancer

Two local charities in Kent:

• The Pickering Trust, which provides emotional support for people who have been affected by cancer
• Hospice in the Weald, where her coach Dave Arnold passed away two years to the day after Holmes won the1500m gold medal in Athens

“26.2 miles is a very long way for a long-time retired, middle distance runner,” said Holmes. “I will have to completely change my mindset to train for such a long distance but it’s a challenge that I am now up for, especially as for me it will all be about raising lots of money for charity. It’s the most amazing event, the atmosphere is incredible and now I can’t wait until Race Day.”

Holmes joins an elite group of British Olympic track & field gold medallists who have gone on to run the London Marathon.

These include:

• Chris Brasher (1956 steeplechase gold)
• Seb Coe (1980 and 1984 1500m gold)
• Lynn Davies (1964 long jump gold)
• Mo Farah (2012 5000m and 10000m gold)
• Sally Gunnell (1992 400m hurdles gold)
• David Hemery (1968 400m hurdles gold)
• Mary Peters (1972 pentathlon gold)

Source: 2016 Virgin Money London Marathon