Holmes won't rule out Commonwealth swansong

Double Olympic champion Kelly Holmes insists her final track appearance in Britain on Sunday will not herald her departure from the sport.

The 35-year-old will appear for the final time on a British track when she competes against the likes of heptathlete Kelly Sotherton in the 800 metres at the Norwich Union British Grand Prix in Sheffield.

However, Holmes has not ruled out extending her career until after the Commonwealth Games next March in Melbourne.

She said: “It is still in my sights but I want to get this weekend done. I’ll see how everything goes.”

Holmes’ career has been blighted by injury and she has not competed since her victory in the 1,500m at the Norwich Union International in Glasgow in June because of an Achilles injury, but she denied the event at Don Valley Stadium would be her last.

She added: “I haven’t finished. I’m not retiring after Sunday – yet. Athletics is still part of my life.

“I’m the sort of person who likes a career and who likes to map out what the future holds, although I am not sure what that is yet, but my major thing has been to get over the injury problems to be racing on Sunday and that is what has filled every moment of my day.”