The High Performance Podcast Dame Kelly Holmes: Opening up about success and self-harm (E10)
May 11, 2020
This week, Dame Kelly Holmes, a celebrated Double Olympic champion and sports advocate, opens up about her inspiring journey and the deep-seated challenges she faced. She discusses her turbulent upbringing and how it shaped her resilience. Kelly also addresses the pressures of competition and her mental health struggles, emphasizing the importance of mindset in high performance. With heartfelt candor, she shares her transformation into a champion and the significance of authenticity in overcoming adversity.
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Olympic Dream
- At 14, Kelly Holmes watched Sebastian Coe win, inspiring her Olympic dream.
- She told her friends she would become an Olympic champion, driven by the feeling of the Olympics.
Training Diaries
- Holmes meticulously documented her training since age 13, reflecting on her feelings and progress.
- This self-awareness helped her understand her journey towards becoming an Olympic champion.
Breakdown and Self-Harm
- In 2003, while preparing for the World Championships, Holmes experienced a mental breakdown.
- The immense pressure, combined with years of injuries, led to self-harm and suicidal thoughts.