OLYMPIC GLORY: She makes history in Athens..
KELLY HOLMES was crowned queen of British athletics last night after an awesome performance to win her second gold of the Athens Olympics.
She raced into the record books after adding the 1,500m to the 800m title she clinched on Monday—a feat not even greats Seb Coe and Steve Ovett can boast.
TV pundit and former athlete Brendan Foster said: "This is the greatest middle-distance performance in Olympic history.
"This is a long time coming. She should now be called Dame Kelly Holmes, just like Lord Coe."
Bookmakers Ladbrokes have already stopped taking bets on Kelly to be this year's BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
Around 14million Brits are thought to have watched Kelly win in a British record time of 3:57.90.
After bursting over the finishing line she raised her hands in delight then punched the air with both fists before doing a lap of honour with a Union Jack draped on her shoulders.
After the race she said: "I just can't believe it. I'm totally gobsmacked. Obviously the 800m gave me a lot of confidence and going through the rounds I was feeling quite good.
"I was tired out there and the race was just getting harder and harder and I just wanted to have a party.
Strength
"I had to use all my guts and strength and just hold on for dear life out there."
When asked what had been her favourite victory, she said: "Both. The whole experience has been amazing.
"I'm going to have a good time tonight, I hope. Actually, I'm a bit knackered now."
There were tears from Kelly as the national anthem played during the medal presentation.
Later, Kelly told the News of the World the secret that drove her to win a second gold medal—Alicia Keys' song If I Ain't Got You playing over and over in her mind.
She said: "That song means so much to me. I love it.
"The words inspired me because it goes on about diamond rings and some people needing everything. But to me that song is about my gold medal.
"It means everything to me and when I look at it I think, ‘Everything will mean nothing if I ain't got you'"
The lyrics of the song, which was a top ten hit, include: "Some people want it all, but I don't want nothing at all, if I ain't got you baby."
As she did in the 800m, the former Army sergeant ran a perfect race, hanging at the back of the pack to conserve energy before powering through the field.
But if her first gold was won by a whisker, her second was emphatic as she won by several yards.
Her glorious victory was the perfect tonic for fans disappointed by Paula Radcliffe's failure to finish the 10,000m on Friday night.
Kelly, 34, became the first Briton to win both the 800m and 1,500m gold medals at the same Olympics since 1920—London train guard Albert Hill achieved the magnificent double at the Antwerp Games.
Kelly has revealed that cashew nuts are her secret energy booster.
Albert, on the other hand, always claimed that after drinking Belgian water during World War I he trained on Belgian LAGER. Kelly was also the first British woman to win the Olympic 800m since Ann Packer 40 years ago.
After she received her 800m gold medal from her hero Seb on Monday night, Kelly said: "It's a dream come true. I've strived for this all my life.
"The icing on the cake was getting the gold medal from Seb. He's one of my heroes.
Shock
"When I crossed the line I thought I had won but then I thought maybe I had imagined it.
"I had to watch the screen and also heard someone shouting from the stands that I had won gold. I can't believe this. I'm in total shock.
"My gold medal is on my bed in my room and I keep stroking it. It will be worn out by the time I get home."
Kelly is now set to cash in on her double gold success with an autobiography and money-spinning promotional deals.
Experts say she could pick up £5million over the next five years.
She will receive a hero's welcome when she returns home to Hildenborough, Kent, tomorrow. Council officials there plan to honour her with a parade in an open-top bus.
Kelly's medal haul dates from 1994, where she won a gold in the 1,500m at the Commonwealth Games and a European silver medal at the same distance. She was awarded an MBE in 1997 and picked up a bronze in the 800m at the last Olympics in Sydney.
Awesome foursome
BRITAIN'S sprinters struck a shock streak of gold last night, winning the 4x100m relay and silencing their critics.
The British quartet of Jason Gardener, Darren Campbell, Marlon Devonish and Mark Lewis-Francis held off the Americans in a breathtaking photo finish to clock up 38.07 seconds.
Before the relay success Britain were in danger of coming away from the Olympics without a single track and field medal for any man for the first time ever.
After their victory, our delighted sprinters draped themselves in a Union Jack and made No. 1 signs with their fingers.
Britain's chances had looked slim with no finalist in the 100m or 200m races.
Darren Campbell had clashed with BBC TV pundits Colin Jackson and Michael Johnson, who criticised British sprinting. After the win Campbell said: "It's been emotional. I let my feet do the talking."
Devonish said: "That's the best we've ever run." Jason Gardener added: "It's a dream come true."
Surprise
And Mark Lewis-Francis, who stormed home in the final leg, said: "I knew we'd come back a strong team."
It was Britain's first Olympic relay gold since the 1912 Games in Antwerp, Belgium. The victory came during a press conference to celebrate Kelly Holmes' second gold—and team chief Simon Clegg said: "I hadn't expected it if I'm honest."
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