In Conversation with Dame Kelly Holmes: How an Olympian stays sharp when the pressure’s on sponsored by HSBC UK
20 Jun 2026
BBF Main Stage
Dame Kelly Holmes won double Olympic gold at 34, making history as the first British woman to win two golds at the same Games. Her 12-year international career was marked by setbacks, injuries, and immense pressure to perform. She understands what it takes to maintain your edge when the stakes are highest, and the mental strategies that separate those who thrive under pressure from those who crack.
Key takeaways:
-
Sustaining high performance: Strategies to protect your focus and energy in high-pressure, high-stakes environments
-
How to build an inner resilience to allow you to bounce back from setbacks
-
Why creating space to talk about pressure and struggles strengthens performance, not weakens it