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News19 Aug 2004


Kelly Holmes will double in Athens

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  Kelly Holmes (GBR) confirmed that she will run the 800 metres as well as the 1500m at the Olympics.

Holmes, silver medal-winner over two laps behind her training partner, Maria Mutola, of Mozambique, at the IAAF World Championships in Paris a year ago, had originally planned to concentrate on the longer race at the Athens Games.

Holmes made the decision after a training session on Tuesday evening.

"It has been a very tough decision because of the way the programme falls - the 1500m has always been a major goal for me," she said.

Holmes claimed a bronze medal at 800m in Sydney four years ago and after winning the Commonwealth title at the metric mile in Manchester in 2002, she then won the silver medal at 1500m the 2003 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Birmingham.

Her Olympic plans took a jolt in Budapest earlier this year, though, when she fell in the 1500m final at the World Indoors when favourite to win gold. She has since admitted that it has affected her confidence when racing the distance since.

But now the 34-year-old from Kent has heeded the calls for her to double up, starting with the heats of the 800m on Friday evening.

"I am ready to give 100 per cent over both distances,” Holmes said. Holmes has run both events at her two previous Olympics, finishing fourth and 11th at the 80 and 1500m in Atlanta eight years ago an third and seventh in Sydney.

In Athens, Holmes faces a possible six races in eight days. After the 800m semi-finals on Saturday, the final is due to be staged on the evening of Monday, August 23.

The 1500m first round is the following day. Then follows a 48-hour break before the semi-finals, with the final on the last day of athletics action in the Olympic Stadium on Saturday, August 28.

Steven Downes for the IAAF

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