OLYMPIC champion and former WRAC Dame Kelly Holmes thrilled octogenarian RSM David Pritty, when they met to talk about her success on the athletics circuit.
“Dame Kelly Holmes is my heroin of the track – little did she know that!,” said David.
Speaking over a cup of coffee in La Zenia, Orihuela, Grenadier Guards Regiment Sgt Major David, said: “Dame Kelly became an Olympic champion after leaving the army, which was fantastic.
“She began competing in middle-distance events in her youth, joining the British Army, turning professional in 1993,” said David.
Barcelona’92 Olympic Games.
Kelly had resumed her sports activities for the elite of athletics, at the Barcelona’92 Olympic Games.
In 1994 she won the 1,500m at the Commonwealth Games and silver at the European Championships; winning a silver and a bronze at the 1995 Gothenburg World Championships.
She won silver in the 1,500m at the 1998 Commonwealth Games and bronze in the 800 m at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, her first Olympic medal.
“Dame Kelly joined the British Army aged 18, and became a HGV driver in the Women’s Royal Army Corps (WRAC), later becoming a basic physical training instructor.
“In 1990 she elected to attend the first course to be run under the army’s new physical training syllabus, and passed out as a Class 2 PTI.
“Her athletic prowess was encouraged to attend the course selection for full-time transfer to the Royal Army Physical Training Corps (RAPTC) at Aldershot.
“She qualified as a class 1 PTI, remaining in the Adjutant General’s Corps after the disbandment of the WRAC in 1992,” said David.
“Dame Kelly also became British Army judo champion and at an athletics event, competed in and won an 800 metres, and a 3,000 metres and a relay race, all in a single day! She also won the heptathlon – marvellous,” said David.
She took part in her final major championship in 2004, with a double gold medal-winning performance at the Athens Olympics, finishing as the 800m and 1,500m Olympic Champion.
Dame Kelly was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 2005.
“She was also made an honorary colonel of the Royal Armoured Corps Training Regiment (RACTR),” said David.
On meeting Dame Kelly, David said: “I was at the Don Valley Stadium, Sheffield, to see the British Athletics Trials.
“She arrived in a helicopter – with her two Gold medals she won at the Athens Olympics – it made my day.”
