Dame Kelly Holmes visits St Aloysius College in Archway

Published: 4th March, 2011

DOUBLE Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes showed some of that gold medal-winning spirit when she visited St Aloysius College in Archway yesterday (Thursday).

Dame Kelly, who admitted that school hadn’t been the best days of her life, showed her prowess on the rowing machine in the school’s sports hall cheered on by a crowd of pupils. 

She said: “School was definitely not for me, and, apart from the sport, I found it hard to do well academically. 

“I’m the perfect example of why school should encourage children in activities like sport. 

“Young people need targets and challenges to bring out their self-confidence.”

She also praised her PE teacher who saw her ability at an early age. 

Dame Kelly, from Hildenborough near Tonbridge, won both the 800m and 1500m events at the 2004 games in Athens.

She is helping to support the school through her charity the Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust.