Kelly Holmes - Post-athletics Career

Post-athletics Career

Since 2004, Holmes has taken part in Norwich Union sponsored "On Camp with Kelly" athletics camps helping train more junior athletes.

In 2005, she won the Laureus World Sports Award for Sportswoman of the Year. That same year, she named the P&O Cruise ship MS Arcadia.

On 21 August 2005, she competed in her final race in the UK, the 800 m at the Norwich Union British Grand Prix meeting in Sheffield. Her training schedule during the summer of 2005 had been disrupted by a recurrent Achilles tendon injury, and she finished the race in 8th place, limping across the finish line and completing a lap of honour on a buggy.

On 6 December 2005, Holmes announced her retirement from athletics, stating she had reassessed her future after the death of a friend as well as citing a lack of motivation to continue.

On 16 September 2007, Holmes presented the weekly round-up of sports news on the BBC London News as an apparent substitute for regular presenter Mark Bright. Holmes was introduced by anchorwoman Riz Lateef without explanation. Reading from the autocue in a glamorous dress with elaborate hairstyle, Holmes appeared confident and enthusiastic, leading to speculation that this might presage a career in broadcasting. Neither the BBC nor Dame Kelly have made any public statement since.

Holmes is the aunt of British decathlete, Andrew Holmes.

In May 2009 Holmes was named as the new President of Commonwealth Games England, succeeding Sir Chris Chataway, who had held the post since 1994. Commonwealth Games England Chairman Sir Andrew Foster said: "Dame Kelly has been an outstanding athlete both for Team England and Great Britain. She is a truly inspirational and respected figure in the sporting world and will be a wonderful ambassador for Commonwealth Games England."

In 2010, Holmes was inducted into the England Athletics Hall of Fame.

In October 2011 Holmes appeared live on Dubai One lifestyle show Studio One as she talked about her life and career after athletics.