KELLY Holmes’ interview on The Tommy Tiernan Show was hailed as ‘brilliant, deep and open’ by RTE viewers.
The athletics legend was extremely open about the mental health difficulties she’s endured throughout her life.
She became a household name at the 2004 Olympics when she won two gold medals in the 800m and 1500m[/caption]
She only came out as a gay woman in 2022 at the age of 52[/caption]
Tommy found her fascinating to speak with across the wide-ranging discussion[/caption]
Pursuing Sonia O’Sullivan in the women’s 1500m at the 1996 Mobil Bislett Games in Oslo[/caption]
She noted how feeling like she had to hide her sexuality until 2022 was a major contributing factor.
To underline her point, the 54-year-old explained how she spent a decade working for the British Army at a time when ‘there was a ban on LGBT+ people’.
This meant it played on her mind whether her career would be roadblocked if colleagues found out she was secretly gay.
All through her 20s, 30s and 40s she had to conceal any romantic relationships she was in – which she acknowledged damaged her overall well-being.
Her upbringing was also more complicated than most people’s as her mother was only 17 upon giving birth and becoming a single parent.
This led to her spending the first five years of her life in a care home before her mum married her step-dad whom she refers to her as her dad.
Holmes is now an advocate for mental health treatment as she tells her tale in the hope that it will encourage others secretly suffering to confide in professionals and loved ones.
Overall, the 20-minute chat flew by with viewers impressed at how genuine she was about her many downs in life.
Paul Treacy praised: “Brilliant interview. Deep and open.”
Similarly, someone else replied: “The bit I saw looked very interesting. Nice lady.”
There was time too for more typical sporting star interview recollections.
Irish ears would have pricked up when she recalled competing against Sonia O’Sullivan down through the years.
Of the Cork legend, Holmes gushed: “She was amazing. You know she used to inspire me because she was so good.
“I always wanted to beat her – and I did…eventually!”
