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Double Trouble: Kelly Holmes, Intersectionality and Unstable Narratives of Olympic Heroism in the British Media

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Olympic Women and the Media

Part of the book series: Global Culture and Sport ((GCS))

Abstract

In the run-up to the Athens Olympic Games the British daily newspaper the Guardian produced a booklet entitled ‘Olympics 2004’ which provided a guide to the events and highlighted promising athletes from Britain and elsewhere. Kelly Holmes was not counted as one of the ‘Ten of the Best’ British stars of the Games. Neither was she mentioned in their identification of potential ‘Showstoppers’ or ‘Other Brits to watch’ for the day of the women’s 800 metres. Holmes was considered one of the ‘Brits to watch’ on the day of the women’s 1500 metres, but in a way that did not concede much hope of victory. She was described as one of two ‘stalwarts of British athletics’ competing that day, who would ‘be hoping for a bang rather than a farewell whimper this evening’ (p. 78). In fact, Holmes resoundingly exceeded all expectations. She won both the 800 metres and the 1500 metres, becoming the first British female track athlete to win two Olympic gold medals and the first British double gold medallist at the same Games since 1920.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Brunel University, UK

    Laura Hills (lecturer in youth sport/sociology of sport)

  2. Centre for Scientific and Cultural Research in Sport in the School of Human and Life Sciences, Roehampton University, London, UK

    Eileen Kennedy (Director)

Authors
  1. Laura Hills
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  2. Eileen Kennedy
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Alberta, Canada

    Pirkko Markula (Professor of Socio-cultural Studies of Sport and Physical Activity) (Professor of Socio-cultural Studies of Sport and Physical Activity)

Copyright information

© 2009 Laura Hills and Eileen Kennedy

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Cite this chapter

Hills, L., Kennedy, E. (2009). Double Trouble: Kelly Holmes, Intersectionality and Unstable Narratives of Olympic Heroism in the British Media. In: Markula, P. (eds) Olympic Women and the Media. Global Culture and Sport. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230233942_6

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