UK double Olympic gold medal winner Dame Kelly Holmes has told MEED that determination is the key to success in both sport and life.

Speaking at the Daman Corporate Health Awards in Abu Dhabi on 5 November, Holmes said that “anyone who is exceptional in life has worked hard to get there”

Holmes was speaking before the presentation of the awards to organisations and individuals recognised for contributing to improving the health of employees in the UAE.

Talent spotted

Holmes’ life mirrors her message.

Born in Kent in 1970 of a Jamaican father and English mother, Holmes went to a local state school, but left aged 16. Her first jobs included working in a shop and as a nursing patient for the disabled.

Holmes had already been identified as one of the outstanding track talents of her generation. She won the English Schools junior 1,500 metres in 1983 and the senior race in 1987.

Then, aged 18, Holmes joined the army, where she initially drove lorries.  She became a physical training instructor and was promoted to the rank of sergeant. Holmes continued to be outstanding at sport and became the British Army women’s judo champion. But she dropped out of the sport at the highest level to concentrate on her military career.

This changed in 1992, when Holmes returned to top-class athletics. The following year, she won her first Grand Prix race in Stockholm. The medals started to come and included a silver and bronze at the 1995 World Championships.

Olympic triumph

Holmes left the army in 1997 to concentrate on running. Disaster struck at the Athens World Championships when her Achilles Heel was ruptured. Holmes’ recovery to full fitness took time and there were doubts about whether she would win the ultimate accolade. These were triumphantly dismissed at the Athens Olympics in 2004 when Holmes won gold for both the 800 metres and the 1,500 metres.

“When I was 14, my dream was to be an Olympic champion,” Holmes said. “For about six months after, I thought I was dreaming and I would wake up on the starting line.”

Today, Holmes is one of the UK’s most respected sports personalities who continues to support efforts to cultivate athletic talent in Britain as well as maintain her commitments to a wide range of other activities.

These include the role of being ambassador in the Future Champions talent development programme created by The National Health Insurance Company Daman, the Abu Dhabi health insurance firm. She is also supporting Active Life by Daman, a community mobilisation programme.

Tackling diabetes

Kelly was in Abu Dhabi to meet for the first time members of a group of 40 youngsters aged 10-17 that have been selected to participate in the future champions programme. The Future Champion progamme is about more than sport.

“The participants have been talent-spotted, and it’s not just for their technical ability,” Holmes said. “It’s about their attitude as well.”

“We are trying to help them with life generally,” she said. “It is not all about physical attributes. It’s more than the ability they have. It is about changing mind sets and changing perceptions about where they are going.”

Both programmes are designed to address the soaring rates of non-communicable diseases in the UAE. Obesity and diabetes rates are among the world’s highest.

The aim is to change behaviour early. Says Holmes: “If you can impact the younger generation, it’s going to have a wider effect.”

The Daman Corporate Health Awards were organised by MEED. Headline sponsor is Daman. Silver sponsor is Access All Areas. VIP partners are the Ministry of Public Works and University Hospital. Strategic partner is Imperial College Diabetes Centre.

To see more details about the winners of the first Daman Corporate Health Awards organised by MEED, go to:www.corporatehealthawards.com