Dame Kelly Holmes has reportedly got engaged to her girlfriend Louise Cullen, three years after publicly coming out as gay.
The Olympic legend, 55, best known for her historic double gold in both the 800m and 1500m at the 2004 Athens Games, reportedly popped the question to Louise earlier this year, sealing their love story that began during lockdown.
A source told The Sun: ‘It’s a lovely happy ending after she spent years thinking she was going to be arrested for having gay relationships while she was in the Army.
‘It was at a time when homosexuality was still illegal for serving troops.’
Kelly met Louise, a professional massage therapist, in 2021 after connecting through an online fitness community launched during the pandemic, and what started as casual chats over shared workouts soon turned into something more serious.
The couple have kept much of their relationship private, but Kelly opened up in 2023, revealing how happy and supported she felt in love, saying: ‘She loves me for me. I’m just happy.’
Dame Kelly Holmes has reportedly got engaged to her long-term girlfriend Louise Cullen, three years after publicly coming out as gay (the couple are pictured at Brighton Pride on Saturday)
Daily Mail have contacted Kelly’s representatives for comment.
The report came as Kelly also make a loved-up appearance alongside her partner Louise at Brighton Pride on Saturday.
In July, Kelly won an Attitude Pride Europe Icon Award. At the time she wrote:
‘To be recognised for what I now stand for is incredible.
‘You have no idea how much my life has changed over the past three years, unless you have heard me talk at one of my speaking engagements (to those that have…hi) It’s life changing to be able to breathe and feel happy (most days)
‘It’s like I am living a different one. One where I see people and they see me. One where I am in the present, attentive to anyone I meet rather than on edge about what they think. One where I have met a huge amount of people that I sincerely can now say are friends.
‘I am reminded everyday from hearing stories from men, women, LGBTQIA communities, mothers, fathers, uncles, aunts, business people, widows, mature people, younger people…you get the picture?!
‘that what I now speak about and how I have been honest and open about my journey has given them strength and courage to either realise that understanding can support loved ones, friends, family members, colleagues and/or acceptance save lives!’
‘I am proud of who I am and can’t wish things had been different because that’s detrimental, but I can live everyday being my true self.
Kelly, 54, met Louise, a professional massage therapist, in 2021 after connecting through an online fitness community launched during the pandemic and what started as casual chats over shared workouts soon turned into something more serious
The couple have kept much of their relationship private, but Kelly opened up in 2023, revealing how happy and supported she felt in love, saying: ‘She loves me for me. I’m just happy’
The Olympic icon is best known for her historic double gold in both the 800m and 1500m at the 2004 Olympic Games (pictured winning the 800m in Athens in 2004)
Kelly added: ‘Thanks for all of you that have been incredible loving, supportive, positive, open and honest to me. Love ya’.
Dame Kelly has been very open about keeping her sexuality a secret for over 30 years.
Appearing on Loose Women three years ago, the Olympic champion, emotionally spoke about her battle to hide her sexuality when she was a teenager due to a ban on gay, lesbian and bisexual people serving in the British Army.
She said: ‘I joined the army when I was 17, you get rules, it’s discipline and you couldn’t have a same-sex relationship and I realised quickly I was gay.
‘What people forget is during my army career I became a world class athlete. I would have loved to have been me 30 years ago and live my life, but I couldn’t.’
‘An older generation have fought for this moment so younger generations can come out freely. I never told anyone in sport, no one talked about being gay.’
Gay and lesbian citizens have been only been allowed to serve openly in the Her Majesty’s Armed Forces since 2000.
The fight to allow homosexuality in the British Armed Forces started with a legal battle.
Until 2000, around 200 servicemen and women a year were dismissed from the Armed Forces for homosexuality. Some have since won compensation.
Kelly, already a successful young athlete at schools and youth Olympics level, turned down a sports scholarship in the United States to join the army as a teenager.
She became Corporal Kelly Holmes, with a new dream set of being a personal training instructor.
But sporting development continued during her time in the armed forces through success the Army Championships, though Holmes also had success in their judo and volleyball tournaments.
Kelly had previously detailed the impact of her mother’s death on her decision to come out (pictured with mother Pam Norman in 2005) Pam died in 2017 from myeloma
After winning the UK Civilian Championships as Corporal Holmes, Kelly qualified for the 1993 World Championships in the process, leaving her having to balance her armed forces and athletics work. She eventually left the army to become a full-time athlete in 1997.
Kelly also detailed the impact of her mother Pam Norman’s death on her decision to come out. Pam died in 2017 from myeloma.
Kelly said: ‘I haven’t been able to say anything for 34 years, when my mum passed away over 4 years ago, I knew I needed to be so it’s taken 4 years to know it’s right’.
‘At one point I’m going to die and I don’t want my family and friends at my funeral saying she couldn’t be herself’.
