'LIFE IS ALWAYS WORTH LIVING'

Dame Kelly Holmes on overcoming her mental-health struggles

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I'ts been almost three years since Kelly Holmes first made her mark on Loose Women. Since joining the panel, she has bravely discussed finding love with a woman after years of hiding her sexuality due to her military background – until 2000 it was illegal to be openly gay in the British armed forces.

Kelly left the Army in 1997 to pursue a career in athletics, which saw her win two gold medals at the Athens Olympics, and receive a prestigious damehood from the late Queen in 2005 for her services to sport. Despite having breakdowns and admitting to almost taking her own life at one point, Dame Kelly, 55, now reveals she finally understands how it feels to be happy.

It's been over two decades since you won gold at the Olympics. When did you realise you had a gift for athletics?

I think I was beating girls who were two years older than me at school so, of course, suddenly you think, 'Oh, here we go." No one around me was sporty.

I think I was just naturally attuned to it. When you find something you're good at, it's just natural.