I'll be too old for Beijing 2008, says Holmes

Britain's golden girl Kelly Holmes revealed today that she will not be competing at the next Olympics in Beijing in 2008.

The double gold medal winner said at 38 she would be too old to compete, but vowed to race on for the next couple of years.

Holmes, who took gold in the 800m and 1500m in Athens, told GMTV when asked if she would be at the next games: “No way. I have not retired. I have got some races left this year and I have set myself a few targets and goals.

“But I will be 38 in Beijing. I think my physio would kill me if I said I wanted to go for another four years.”

Holmes, who received a rapturous reception when she and the rest of Team GB arrived home at Gatwick yesterday, did say she would be interested in taking up the challenge of reality TV show I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here.

She said: “You can never say never. I am always up for a challenge. It would be a laugh.”

Holmes, from Hildenborough in Kent, who appeared on today’s GMTV with her mother Pam Thomson, spoke more about her secret weapon that helped her to a historic double victory in Athens.

“In the early rounds I worked out that I could use my strength at the end as long as I was economical in the race. It was a big risk to take.

“It was weird. I knew where I needed to be at certain times. At one stage I knew I had to be sixth and then fourth. Everyone else around me was a total blur. It was as if someone was taking me there.

“It has not sunk in yet. It’s going to take a long time. Everyone knows it was my dream to get one gold, but to get a second was amazing. I still cannot believe it’s me that did it.”