Holmes makes it a famous double.
DOUBLE FOR GOLDEN GIRL HOLMES
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Kelly Holmes ran her way into the history books by striking gold in
the 1500 metres.
It completed a dream double for the 34-year-old from Kent, after she won gold
in the 800m here on Monday - and she did it in breathtaking style by setting a
new British record with her winning time of 3:57.90.
Victory in the Olympic Stadium meant Holmes became the first Briton for 84
years to achieve the Olympic middle-distance double, a feat last performed by
Albert Hill in the 1920 Games in Antwerp - although the women's 1500m was only
introduced in the 1972 Games.
There was huge British support in the stadium when the final got under way and
it was business as usual as Holmes continued her tactic of racing at the back of
the back but keeping the early leader in her sights.
She was eighth out of the 12 at the bell but moved up to third at the 150m
mark and then made it look oh-so-easy as she cruised clear with 50 metres to go
and powered over the line.
This time - unlike Monday's close finish - Holmes was smiling before she
crossed the line, fully aware that she had won her second Olympic title.
Holmes went one better than Britain's former middle-distance stars Sebastian
Coe and Steve Ovett, who tried and failed to do the coveted double.
Coe, one of Holmes' heroes, won gold at 1500m and Ovett triumphed over 800m,
but neither man managed it at both distances.
The former army sergeant, who put the secret of her success down to a diet of
cashew nuts and ice baths, is two years older than British sprinter Linford
Christie was when he took the 100m title at the Barcelona Games in 1992.
Holmes' double triumph in the space of five days in the Olympic Stadium
banished the memory of the last time she was in Athens, at the 1997 World
Championships, when a ruptured Achilles tendon ended her 1500m hopes in the
heats.
She also made up for her previous Olympic 1500m performances. In Atlanta in
1996 she finished 11th and four years ago in Sydney she was seventh.
This was Britain's 28th medal of the Athens Games, equalling the total won
four years ago, although there were 11 golds in Sydney compared to the eight
here so far, with boxer Amir Khan hoping to strike gold on Sunday.
It was seven years ago that Holmes set the British record over 1500m and she
could not have chosen a better time to shatter that mark.
Britain was in need of another boost after the disappointment of Paula
Radcliffe in last night's 10,000m final, when she pulled up before the end of
the race just as she did in the marathon on Sunday.
That boost came in spectacular style from Holmes, who gave the team their
third track and field medal of these Games - adding to her own 800m gold and the
bronze won by Kelly Sotherton in the heptathlon.
Holmes was delighted after her double-Olympic gold triumph in Athens.
"I just can't believe it. I'm gobsmacked," she told BBC1.
"Obviously after the 800 it gave me so much confidence and going through the
rounds I was feeling quite good.
"But the girls were so good in that race and I had to really focus mentally -
probably more than any other one because I was tired and focusing was getting
harder and harder.
"Now I can't wait for tonight to have a party."
Recalling her tactics for the race, Holmes said: "I was trying to place
myself in the right position when I needed to and I was just focusing on where
the leaders were.
"I realised they were pushing it hard so I had to move up. I was aware that
if one of them made a break then I would have had it.
"So I just had to use all my guts and strength to hold on for dear life again
when I could feel them coming.
"The whole experience has been absolutely amazing. I've trained so hard from
when I've been out in Cyprus (at the British training camp) and I've got so many
people to thank.
"I can't believe it but I'm just going to have a good time tonight," Holmes
told BBC Sport.
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