Kelly Holmes is the Olympic 800 metres champion after her dramatic win in the final tonight.
Holmes could barely believe it herself as she battled past former training partner Maria Mutola in the last few strides to cross the line first, wide-eyed and arms aloft.
“I can’t believe it,” said Holmes. “I didn’t even realise I had won. I knew I had hit the front but I had to wait to see if I had won.”
Asked to explain how she felt as she hit the back straight and was going stride for stride with Mutola, Holmes said: “I was just digging in, and digging in, and I didn’t realise I had won.
Advertisement
“I wanted to see the replay to make sure. It was just unreal. Everyone told me at the side (that I had won), and I couldn’t believe it.
“I can’t believe it. I didn’t realise I had won and had to see the replay twice to be sure.
“I have had all those dreams and I thought everything was going too good this time and I thought it would go again, but I came through.
“It was amazing. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. I’ve dreamed of this moment all my athletics career and I didn’t think it was going to come.”
“I’ve got so many people to thank ... who have supported me through good and bad times.”
Advertisement
The 34-year-old had wept tears of joy as it dawned on her that she had become Britain’s first female Olympic champion on the track since Sally Gunnell in 1992.
Holmes only decided last week to run the two-lap event as well as the 1,500 metres, and it proved an inspired decision.
Morocco’s Hasna Benhassi took silver with Jolanda Ceplak pinching the bronze, Mutola pushed down to fourth on the line.
“We train together so she knows my weaknesses,” said Mutola. “But Kelly Holmes really deserves her gold medal.”
Holmes had found herself in last place in the early stages as Jearl Miles Clark from America set a high tempo up front.
Advertisement
She was still seventh at the bell but then began surging through the field to lie fourth with 200 metres to go.
So often in the past she has found Mutola impossible to get past in the home straight, but this time, with years of injury finally behind her, the former army sergeant displayed typical grit and determination to edge past in the final few strides.
Her time of 1:56.38 was just outside her personal best, with Benhassi and Ceplak both clocked at 1:56.43.