Keynote SpeakersDame Kelly Holmes is an Olympian, Author, Presenter and Motivational Speaker.
She has won Olympic, World, Commonwealth and European medals, and added the ultimate sporting trophy to her cabinet at the Athens Olympic Games – Double Olympic Gold.
Kelly Holmes, however, is not just known for her medals and records but is known for her gutsy, committed approach to her athletics and her ability to overcome injury and illness and still stay at the top of her discipline.
Kelly started her athletics career as a promising athlete when a junior and won the 1,500m at the English Schools Championships, but chose to give up her early athletics career in favour of a career in the army.
She signed up a few months before her 18th Birthday and over the next 9 ½ years worked her way quickly up the ranks until she was a Sergeant.
She joined with the aim of making Officer rank, but once she started to run again, initially for the forces, and started to win major titles she faced a really tough decision – army or running.
In 1997 she took the massive step and left the army and made athletics her focus and career.
Her desire to be the best demands that she gives 100%, something she does in everything she takes on. She has the fundamental element for success – the ability to be focused.
Dame Kelly Holmes – Motivational Speaker:
Double Olympic Champion – Dame Kelly Holmes is one of the UK’s most popular athletes, respected throughout the world as a role model and an inspiration.
She approaches her talks in a style that is eloquent and humorous, as well as being an effortless speaker who explains how techniques she has learnt on the track can be applied to all areas of life.
Setting British records in the 600m, 800m and 1000m, Dame Kelly is an Olympic, Commonwealth and European champion that has achieved 7 x Gold, 8 x Silver and 4 x Bronze medals throughout her career.
This includes her double Gold win in the 800m and 1500m at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, becoming the first Briton in over 80 years to do so.
After her Olympic success, she won BBC Sports Personality of the Year, European Athlete of the Year and was honoured with a Damehood from the Queen.
However, before Dame Kelly started winning gold medals, her career was overshadowed by injury and disappointment. She draws on how she found the determination and dedication to overcome this in her talks and she emphasises that we can all overcome our hardships, especially in the workplace, just as she did.
She uses vital information from her life as a physical training instructor in the British Army, as well as her athletics career and role as The National School Sport Champion, to bring about effective team building sessions that are motivational, empowering and highlight the importance of sport and making sure you look after yourself.
Dame Kelly Holmes’ experience makes her the ideal speaker as she gives her audience invaluable information while keeping everyone entertained with her natural humour.
Her enthusiastic and energetic speeches are rooted in the unique achievements of a double Olympic champion and are synonymous with focus, self-belief, drive, determination and success.
Speaking Topics:
- Mental Health in the Workplace
- Women’s Empowerment/Networking
- Motivation
- Overcoming Adversity
- Sports/Peak Performance
- Health & Wellbeing
