Dame Kelly Holmes has revealed she is taking the next step in her relationship and moving in with her girlfriend.
The Olympian, 53, who has kept her partner out of the public eye, admitted she is ‘terrified’ to switch up her living situation but described the relationship as the best one she has never had.
Appearing on Friday’s Loose Women, Kelly said: ‘I’m a workaholic, but I’ve met someone recently who is the most I’ve ever connected with, and your priorities change.
‘My partner’s telling me to slow down for my health. I’m never at home. My partner is moving down in November to live with me. I’m terrified.’
Further detailing her nerves, Kelly almost became emotional as she thought of how co-habitating will change her life.
Relationship: Kelly Holmes has revealed she is taking the next step in her relationship and moving in with her girlfriend
Candid: The Olympian, 53, who has kept her partner out of the public eye, admitted she is ‘terrified’ to switch up her living situation but described the relationship as the best one she has never had
She said: ‘It’s massive I’m gonna cry. It’s massive to admit that I’m gonna make a change for somebody.’
The athlete, who won the 800m and 1,500m titles at the 2004 Olympic games, spoke openly about her sexuality for the first time in June as she declared that she ‘finally feels free’ after years of living a ‘secret’ life.
The athletics star admitted she was ‘fully aware’ of rumours about her sexual orientation but is now happy to be coming out ‘on her own terms’.
Speaking to the Mirror, she said: ‘There have been lots of dark times where I wished I could scream that I am gay – but I couldn’t.
‘I needed to do this now, for me. It was my decision. I’m nervous about saying it. I feel like I’m going to explode with excitement. Sometimes I cry with relief. The moment this comes out, I’m essentially getting rid of that fear.’
Kelly confirmed at the time she has a partner but didn’t want to give any further details, admitting it is the first time she hasn’t introduced someone as a ‘friend or PA’.
She explained how her family and close friends have known for years she is gay but she worried about being in trouble for breaching retrospective rules in the Forces.
At the time, the forces had a ban on LGBT soldiers, which was only lifted in 2000. Kelly had relationships with other women during her 10 years in service.
Kelly said: ‘My partner’s telling me to slow down for my health. I’m never at home. My partner is moving down in November to live with me. I’m terrified’
‘Finally free’! The Olympic runner spoke about her sexuality for the first time last year as she declared she ‘finally feels free’ after years of living a ‘secret’ life (pictured 2004)
Smiling again: The athletics star admitted she was ‘fully aware’ of rumours about her sexual orientation but is now happy to be coming out ‘on her own terms’
Kelly, who chose to come out during Pride month, told how she first realised she was gay when she kissed another female soldier at the age of 17.
After the kiss, Kelly recalled writing to her stepdad who she shares a close relationship with to explain what had happened.
She was ‘confused and scared’ but Kelly revealed her stepfather accepted her straight away before coming out to the rest of her family in 1997.
Touching on her previous relationships with women, she said: ‘No disrespect to them, but the relationships have only been a small part of my life.
‘They haven’t been in this fearful world with me for 34 years.’
Kelly, who was made a Dame in 2005, said she dated one woman between the ages of 27 and 32 but broke off the relationship in 2002 so she was able to focus on the Athens Olympics.
