Dame Kelly Holmes has said that she is ‘terrified’ of taking a big step with her boyfriend.
After coming out as LGBT at the age of 52, the Olympic legend has kept her dating life mostly private.
Dame Kelly revealed in June last year that she discovered she was gay as a 17-year-old soldier in the Women’s Royal Army Corps in 1988, when she kissed a female comrade, but had kept that part of herself hidden for 34 years for fear of being prosecuted, since same-sex relationships were prohibited in the forces.
Following the epidemic, Dame Kelly stated that she felt it was time to be her’real self’ and express who she is, because being closed led to breakdowns and suicidal thoughts.
She has subsequently stated that she is in a romantic relationship, claiming, ‘It’s the first time I’ve had someone who isn’t a PA or a friend.’
And now they’re taking a big step together, but she’s ‘terrified’.
During Friday’s Loose Women, Dame Kelly shared: ‘My partner’s meant to be coming over in November to live with me – I’m terrified!’
‘I’m used to my independence and my space.’
Dame Kelly said, ‘I’d say, I’ve always been a workaholic,’ during a conversation about whether individuals should slow down their life for love. It’s in my blood; I was in the army, then sports, and it quickly became a focus of mine.
‘But I’ve met someone recently who I feel most connected with out of anyone who I’ve ever connected with.’
Starting to well up, she added: ‘And I think your priorities possibly start to change, it’s not that I will give up work, no chance, I’m not going to go that far, but I do think, my partner is telling me to slow down for my own health.’
She went on to say that she’s ‘hardly ever’ at home, but with her partner moving to live with her later this year, she’s thinking about making changes.
When asked if this would be the first time a partner has lived with her, Dame Kelly joked: ‘No I’ve had a couple of partners who have descended on me.’
‘This is what I want, and I do think, how do you get that balance?’ she added.
‘For your own health and sanity, and to prioritise somebody.’
As co-star Kaye Adams commented on how ‘big of a deal’ this is for Dame Kelly, she blinked back tears saying: ‘Oh massive, I’m going to cry!’
Laughing off the moment, she added: ‘It’s massive to admit that I’m making a change for somebody.
‘One to admit it publicly but also to admit it in myself.’
‘I think when you’ve been such a closed book it almost is an admission every time you talk about something different,’ Dame Kelly continued.
She quipped: ‘When I used to meet people, I used to say there’s a priority order, my athletics, my dogs, then you!’
Loose Women airs weekdays from 12.30pm on ITV1.
