Loose Women star hit by health issue as she says ‘I can’t do it’!

Athlete and Loose Women star Dame Kelly Holmes has revealed how she was forced to slow down after running into a health issue, admitting she ‘overdid it’.

Dame Kelly Holmes
Dame Kelly Holmes has revealed how she was forced to slow down after running into a health issue(Image: Simon John Owen)

Dame Kelly Holmes has revealed how she was forced to slow down this year after feeling extreme burnout amid her busy schedule.

The Olympian, 55, who is known for her impressive career as a middle distance runner, admitted to Mirror that a busy year last year left her unable to carry on. “I was travelling all over the world, often doing five or six speaking engagements a week, I had my big 20-year medal celebrations and visiting Machu Picchu for charity. But burnout is a big issue for me, by January I could feel something wasn’t right health wise,” she explained.

Kelly, who is now a regular on the Loose Women panel, continued, “I took it as a sign that, while last year was amazing, I overdid it, and I couldn’t do the same this year.

“I can’t jump out of bed every day full of energy, and not every day is motivating. If I’m not feeling up to it, I don’t need to run the half-marathon, for example, I’d rather be there in full spirit and energising everybody else.”

Dame Kelly Holmes winning the gold medal during 2004 olympics for women's 800m run
Dame Kelly is known for her impressive athletic career, but admits she has had to slow down this year(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Explaining that the time enjoying a slower pace of life has been one she’s enjoyed, Kelly said: “I’ve been able to look at every part of how I deal with things now, and that’s a real strength. Over the last four or five months, I think I’ve spent more timeat home than I have in years. I love being out in the garden – and with my alpacas!”

However, as Kelly says she still aims for 12,500 steps a day, often takes part in parkruns and keeps her nutrition in check, it’s clear she’s still more active than many.

She said: “I try to move every day, and that might be walking to a job rather than getting an Uber, because I’ll get my steps in and I can people watch! I use it as a wellbeing tool to make me feel good about myself. On a weekend, we might go paddleboarding or on a dog walk or meet up with friends.”

Dame Kelly Holmes with her two pet alpacas
The athlete now enjoys more time at home with her pet alpacas(Image: Supplied)

And adding another thing to her busy roster, Kelly is the official ambassador for vitamin brand Solgar’s wellness partnership with The AJ Bell Great Run series this summer.

“I’m a huge fan of inspiring and motivating people to keep fit and moving in their lives – especially as we get older. Fitness has always been part of my life, but I’m at a point where I really understand the need for us to look at our overall wellbeing.

“So I’ve been going to the runs and it’s just been the best. I’ve seen people of all ages getting their moment when they cross the finish line,” she said of the partnership.

Kelly added: “Also, I’ve seen a huge amount of young women, in their mid-to-late twenties, taking part – more than I’d normally see. It was so positive to see that generation into their fitness and not being embarrassed or worried about the old vision of what women “should” look like. It’s changed, athletic, strong bodies are seen as beautiful now.

Related Posts

A former Red Bull Formula 1 star has expressed his belief that Max Verstappen may leave the team sooner than expected, raising questions about the future direction of both the driver’s career and the championship landscape.

Photo: © IMAGO Four-time F1 world champion Max Verstappen has been tipped to quit Red Bull at the end of this season, by a fellow Dutchman. Verstappen’s future with…

Ferrari’s Fight for Survival: Can the Scuderia’s Latest Upgrades Unlock the SF25’s Potential and End Their Nightmare Season at Austria, or Are They Doomed to Watch Rivals Roar Past?

Ferrari’s High-Stakes Gamble in Austria: Can They Salvage the 2025 Season or Are They Doomed to Watch from the Sidelines Again? Ferrari, once the undisputed titan of…

Christian Horner’s recent statement about Red Bull’s future promises reassurance to Max Verstappen, quelling the swirling rumours of a potential move to Ferrari, and signalling strong team commitment as the Formula 1 season intensifies.

Max Verstappen is patiently waiting for Red Bull to bring some effective updates to his car in his bid for a fifth consecutive Formula 1 title. Currently…

Charles Leclerc recalls intense frustration after losing the Austrian Grand Prix to Max Verstappen’s aggressive late-race move – a controversial moment that not only cost him a long-awaited victory, but also sparked tensions between two of Formula 1’s fiercest rivals.

Charles Leclerc will return to the site where he was denied a first Formula 1 victory by Max Verstappen in 2019 at the Austrian Grand Prix this…

McLaren Shock Fans as Rising Star Alex Dunne Takes Over from Lando Norris in FP1 at Austrian Grand Prix – Supporters React with Surprise, Concern, and Curiosity Over Unexpected Driver Swap in Crucial Practice Session

McLaren have decided to replace Lando Norris with upcoming Formula 2 star Alex Dunne during first practice for the Austrian Grand Prix. Norris, who trails teammate Oscar…

Nico Rosberg Reveals Ferrari’s Strategic Expansion into the UK — A Move That Could Significantly Influence the Future Direction of Formula 1

Ferrari at a Crossroads: Reinvention or Ruin in the Heart of Formula 1 It started with a few carefully chosen words—subtle, almost offhand—from 2016 World Champion Nico…