The double Olympic champion, who revealed she is gay last year, now hopes that by being open she will help others fighting similar battles in silence.
In her memoir, Unique, out this month, Kelly, 53, tells of her journey from hiding her sexuality as a young soldier at a time when being gay in the military was illegal, to her fears of being outed as she stood on the podium at the Athens Olympics, the games which catapulted her to fame as a double-gold medallist.
She recalls: "80,000 people were chanting my name as I stood on top of a double-decker bus and did a victory lap of my hometown. I'd won two Olympic gold medals, the first woman in the UK to ever do that, and I should have been on top of the world at my homecoming parade but even in that magical moment I had this deep fear that someone was going to go to the media and out me for being gay.
"All my life I lived with that fear and anxiety of not being accepted if I lived publicly as my true self. But 18 years later I was standing on stage in Trafalgar Square at London Pride, and people were chanting for me again, this time for the person I have become and I was finally free to be me. Nothing is perfect, the journey continues and I'm learning every day about the community I'm now proud to be part of. But I'm being true to myself and that means everything."
Kelly is now dating a fellow fitness fan named Louise who she has asked to move in with her.
As her memoir, Unique, is released, Dame Kelly Holmes opens up about finding love after bravely coming out last year.
Kelly smiles: "She loves me for me." The former athlete says of her Northern Irish love: "I'm just happy... I'm happy with Lou. It makes it a lot easier being with somebody that I really get on with, and who just likes me for me.
"Lou's a different person... she's a nice person. She's somebody that doesn't want anything.
Denne historien er fra November 06, 2023-utgaven av The Herald.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra November 06, 2023-utgaven av The Herald.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
"The board is very much behind Chris and Lee. We made our decision and we are very comfortable with our decision" - Mark Russell
IT has certainly not been the start to the season that Plymouth Parkway would have wanted.
EASY DOES IT FOR RAMI
AL HAJJ APPRECIATES SMOOTH TRANSITION AT HOME PARK
Gibson must be next to get a new deal at Home Park
THERE was a deserved contract extension for Plymouth Argyle captain Joe Edwards earlier this month. Now they should be looking to tie up a new deal for another of their key players.
Austin can't stop defeat for Bluebird
GLENN Austin added scores of at least three figures during 18 of his visits to the board for Bluebird A in a 7-4 Monday Premier League loss at Legends Lounge.
We used holiday money to buy hand gel and face masks... then gave it to our NHS customers
TWO selfless shopkeepers have donated more than £100,000 of food and medical assistance to people in their community since the pandemic.
Migrants could be in hotels for up to three years-report
MIGRANTS could be housed in hotels for up to three more years due to the asylum backlog, it has been reported.
Girl, 14, hurt in suspected acid attack near school
A 14-YEAR-OLD girl has been left with potentially life-changing injuries after a suspected acid attack outside a school in west London.
Warning of Iran attack as Israel masses forces
IRAN is preparing to \"imminently\" launch a ballistic missile attack on Israel, according to a United States administration official, who warned of \"severe consequences\" should it take place.
Market stall is more than just retail outlet
ASSISTANCE ALSO OFFERED AT STALL OPENED 25 YEARS AGO
Plans submitted for dockyard site
INDUSTRIAL UNITS PART OF REVITILISATION’
