Kelly Holmes - 800m, OG Athens 2004.

Kelly Holmes - 800m, OG Athens 2004.
Commentators - Steve Cram & Brendan Foster.
BBC Coverage.

[@paulquinn1349]

Steve Cram "1:56 something. I don't care" .. classic

[@garethmurtagh]

I remember watching this and thinking that she was too far back at the end of the first lap! 🤣🤣 Steve Cram’s commentary was brilliant!

[@jaydaniels6172]

Cram was willing her over the line!

[@luckyspurs]

@@jaydaniels6172 Cram knows how hard the final 100m of a middle distance race is, when you're neck and neck with somebody. As does Brendan Foster.

[@redrum4100]

Last three at the bell were the first three at the end. Pace judgement is key in the 800m.

[@jonpogoda8797]

Dave Wottle

[@jamienon6572]

One of the truly great moments in UK sport. Think the whole nation cried in happiness for her.

[@Dannielle247]

I'm still crying now lol

[@MrSimonson]

I can honestly say I didn’t

[@RexHeuermann]

Waaaah Waaaaah Waaaaaah

[@CoojertM]

What an absolute memorable performance, one of the finest, if not THE finest in the history of British athletics! Kelly I salute you🎉

[@NPA1001]

I always remember the girl who finished second having a rant after the race saying that “Holmes has no honour because she knows that another meter I would have won that race” Unfortunately love it isn’t called the 800 and one meter race. 🤷‍♂️

[@jerryoshea3116]

Never heard that before!.Such a stupid comment to make!. .Ít's called the 800 meters Race not the 801 meters Race!

[@Mychelial]

Plus she was in the third lane around that last turn! She technically ran more than 800m and still beat everyone. :)

[@seesidesummerhouse6112]

Idk if that’s true or not, but assuming it is that’s one of the worst excuses I’ve ever heard.

[@colinhoschakii606]

You sure it wasn't Ceplak in third? There was some bad blood between her and Holmes so it wouldn't surprise me if it was her having a rant.

[@markgardiner1742]

Yes and had it been 1 m less then she wouldn't of won anything. It can work both ways. A perfectly ran race from Kelly

[@Skylark_Jones]

I shall never forget the look on her face after she crossed the line first, very emotional moment.

[@cazb3729]

This still gets me emotional years later. I remember being 13 years old and cheering her on like crazy!

[@antonyskiller2620]

I had my foot in plaster and had to go back to hospital to get it recast after jumping out of my seat.

[@perrynnlynch1883]

Lol 😆. Great stuff.

[@martind5361]

That last "come on Kelly Holmes" is fantastic

[@human777]

You can hear Crammy choking up. Very well deserved for Dame Kelly.

[@stephenpickettsp]

Great commentary..their excitement is palpable

[@redmachine7]

Still one of my favourite moments in the Olympics. What a woman.

[@SteveR-nl8dl]

Coronation Day 2023. just watched this again , me a 70year old bald guy, still burst into tears every time I see it. wonderful - Go Kelly !!

[@perrynnlynch1883]

Great comment right here and well said.

[@redd605]

Why does this race still give me goosebumps watching it. Years later Steve cram marvellous commentary.

[@f0urstr1ng]

Ceplak was right - another metre and Holmes would not have won gold. That is how perfectly she ran that race Ceplak ran a perfect 801 metre race. Hats off your dameship ❤

[@classicsportclassictiyl8547]

Ceplak mistimed her finish because she and Benhassi were closing fast on Holmes but it was still a great bronze medal for her because as Crammy mentioned that season the then 800m world record holder indoors had been out of sorts going into the games but she turned up when it mattered

[@kevinprior3549]

IT'S GOLD! Cram really is good at commentating on gold medal winning races for British athletes.

[@adegbenroagoro5180]

I've watched this race so many times since 2004. This imo is the best clip of it on KZbin. The commentary was excellent. Brendan Foster predicted her tactics to the T. The prior assesment of the runners was spot on. This was top notch commentary by two former world class athletes. After all those years of disappointment Kelly was physically fit and able to run her race..... and won the Olympic gold medal.

[@sanderslongdrive]

Kelly was the ultimate fighter! She never quit. There's no substitute for an hour's bayonet practice at dawn six days a week.

[@rorylaughton-scott9911]

Incredible commentary, full of heart and emotion.

[@morganscott4931]

Still gives me goose bumps when watching this.

[@classicsportclassictiyl8547]

An incredible race with incredible commentary from Crammy and Brendan Foster. Dame Kelly Holmes got the tactics spot on in fact the top 3 in this race Holmes, Benhassi and Ceplak were 6th, 7th and 8th at the start of the last lap and they ended up 1-2-3. That is the proof that middle distance races are tactical warfare. Jearl Miles Clark a world champion in her own right over 400m in Stuttgart '93 did Kelly a massive favour by towing the field round at a very quick pace the first lap was 56.3 whilst the the second lap was 60.0. But it was so close because Benhassi and Ceplak so nearly stole it from her in the blanket finish which saw Mutola run out of it. Benhassi's silver was a great result for her Crammy and Foster did mention that she had a great finish and she delivered and Ceplak's bronze was a great result as well because as Crammy mentioned the world record holder at 800m indoors hadn't been in great form going into the games but she turned up when it mattered and got into the medals. The scary thing about this was Kelly was originally not going to run in the 800 she was only going to do the 1500m but at the Norwich Union International event in Birmingham a month prior to the games she beat Ceplak by a big margin which gave her confidence. She only made the decision to double up 5 days before the 800m and what a decision it was. Crammy summed it up at 5:43 this was the culmination of a long, painful, emotional road for Kelly, a silver and bronze from the '95 worlds behind 2 all time greats in Ana Quirot and Hassiba Bulmerka, run out of it in the Masterkova Olympics in 96, unbeaten going into the 97 worlds and then pulling up injured in the heats, bronze in Sydney after 6 weeks training, commonwealth champion in Manchester 02, silver in Paris 03 and now finally Olympic glory.

[@Lf2968]

Love this background!

[@201081hero]

British women do quite well at the 800 when the Olympics fall in a year that ends with a 4: Ann Packer gold 1964, Lorraine Baker 5th 1984, Kelly Holmes gold 2004, and now Keely Hodgkinson gold 2024.

[@kellyholmes5349]

I still cry with pride every time I watch this, what a legend ❤ I'll never forget this moment ❤

[@ianmarsden1130]

This is one of the best fields ever in women's middle distance running. What a performance to win gold. I remember thinking that I had burst a blood vessel screaming at the TV over the last 50 metres.

[@garyproffitt5941]

A very brave heart todo very intelligent Kelly Holmes and tears with my eyes 😭👍

[@chrisab66]

Who was the blonde girl? Came like a train that last 50, thankfully there wasn't another 10 metres left! Loved this.

[@classicsportclassictiyl8547]

It was Ceplak the then indoor world record holder at 800m wasn't at her best form going into the games as Crammy and Brendan Foster mentioned but she turned up when it mattered

[@Lf2968]

We had a poster of Kelly up in our school corridor. Inspirational. Brings tears to my eyes still now. The commentary builds this up fantastically

[@michaelsundell2422]

What a race! One of the closest finishes one-through-four in Olympic middle-distance history. Was there ever a closer one?

[@James1-9-7-8]

Brilliant…from last place! I know it’s strategy, but jeez…

[@Mike20216]

Still think her achievements in Athens rank up there with all the greats.

[@DrCrabfingers]

Perfect running....you know 100% your time....first lap, second lap, let the hot heads run themselves out....just stick to your time and your pace. Believe in your pace. Your pace will see you through.

[@mohamedrifki615]

What a come back for Benhassi

[@GIBBO4182]

The most worthy winner of a gold ever

[@timdalf]

The absolute grit that she showed in this race. I remember blubbing my eyes out when she did it.

[@ThomasMuskettOCRhybridathlete]

Amazing memories they don't breed em like Kelly anymore still gives me goosebumps she was so confident in her ability to chase mutola n the rest down PRIDE OF BRITAIN DAME KELLY HOLMES🥇🥇🥇🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@trupaamatis8420]

Kelly, brilliant race! Well deserved. Outstanding commentary! R.I.P. Maria Cioncan! :(

[@npm2457]

250m to go, the three medalists were at the back. To all you middle distance runners, a constant speed is crucial.

[@annemalheiro5768]

Kelly saved Britain that day. Before that they were having a crap Olympics. Kelly is great. Seen her on tv quite a bit recently and she comes across as a lovely person

[@mikey6538]

from last to 1st.. pretty epic come back to win..

[@ajacpmcm123]

Completely inspiring

[@melmortimer1545]

I was around 14... When I saw Kelly win the 800 and 1500 MTRS ...at the Olympics 2008.. I guess she was my first crush ...I loved her as a athlete..but she looked like a super hero to me...I had pictures of her on my bedroom wall... fantastic night in athletics... Melanie 34 🌈❤

[@Bob-moggit]

Loved this My local went mad when she won 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@RedouaneArabi-g4o]

Hasna Benhassi was a promising athlete, discovered by the great Said Aouita himself who trained her in the beginning, but she complained about his rigorous training method which lead him to quit wishing her all the best luck. If she continued with Aouita she would have better carrier.

[@LittleLoz]

Come on Kelly!! Still gives me emotion

[@dannyp2833]

I remember watching this as a 10 year old, on holiday with my parents and brother. It was on in all the pubs and bars, and the whole place we were at erupted when she won. Lots of good memories of just pure joy.

[@lsarpong]

dame kelly what a champion

[@minavamp2811]

it's amazing that benhassi was dead last with 250 meters to go and she almost caught up to holmes. she almost did a dave wottle. holmes was 34 years old here. that is old for 800m runner.

[@melvinpackham7490]

You can just see when you look at Kelly Holmes that she had her game face on...

[@staytrue5307]

800 meters in less than 2 minutes is simply remarkable. Respect to all the runners.

[@xandyb2oo8]

4 years before she gets banned for performance drug use then four years later does this.. cover up drugs got so much better 😂😂😂😂

[@Laura-sg6ss]

CHRISTINE AND KELLY! Childhood💃🏽🤪

[@jacqueswieciech9829]

I met Kelly and her training group in South Africa. She's an awesome person

[@bensmiling]

I return to this race often. Always gets me. ❤😢😂

[@smith9808]

Having an Athens gold medal pretty special IMO

[@welshyyyyy]

Absolutely love this, very reminiscent of the legendary Wottle 800m, both right at the back and came through at the end, wonderful, I remember watching this live and screaming at the TV 😍😍

[@dombrandon3018]

What a wonderful moment.

[@evilzzzability]

What a race! This is what championship level athletics is all about.

[@Fatima502]

Wonderful pictures and commentary

[@matthewsenior4208]

That is how you run an 800m race see also Dave Wottle 1972 Munich Final. The exception to this rule is Rudisha!

[@free2roam674]

And Athing Mu.

[@welshyyyyy]

The Wottle race is very similar to this, both waaay back but came through, both wonderful races

[@kiely4561]

Maria Mutola brought the best out of Kelly

[@thegee001ify]

What a race indeed.

[@TheJamie6666]

What a run by Kelly Holmes.

[@paullundy8975]

Goosebumps

[@stuartjohnson7967]

I thought Maria Mutola looked like a man. But by Jove Old Chap or Chapess….! But that missy Ceplak deffo looks 👀 like a bloke. The best woman won on the day. The amount of near misses and injuries Dame Kelly Holmes had, had over the years made it even more enjoyable than ever in my book. Also the look 👀 of astonishment on her face. Magical. Then she went on to win the 1500m later. Pure Gold X’s 2. Go on Kelly, ya showed the world. Numero Uno….!

[@jaydaniels6172]

Jesus what a finish

[@AminaAmina-tw2hf]

Mereceu

[@TheIkaraCult]

2004 was magic for GB, Kelly obviously top but the 4x100 boys as well. Love watching these back

[@runuphill]

Benhassi ran even faster than Kelly over the final 400 and the final 200, but just left it a smidge too late.

[@Az-om8rw]

I realise the commentators are British but, just once, they might have mentioned the second and third place girls who came from way back.

[@JMundy168]

We've a new golden girl now! Think Keely Hodgkinson is going to get the world title next year, true racer. Kelly was never world champion

[@human777]

Name one person man or woman, other than Kelly that has won 800 and 1500 Olympic golds in the same games. I’ll wait. Last person to win 2 golds in a games on the track before Kelly was Albert Hill, 84 years prior.

[@tommytempo1]

Peter Snell 800m & 1500m Tokyo 1964.

[@allws9683]

I find Kelly sympathetic, but she looked so unhealthy anorexic in Athens. Scary almost, her hollow eyes. Very differerent from her normal looks (in Sydney 2000 for example). It's great reat she gained her double triumph. And even better she could retire with that, because competing/living long term , with low weight like that could not be good ..

[@admiralbenbow5083]

She was a tremendous runner. Some time after the Olympic double I was waiting in the traffic on Chelsea Bridge and there she was talking with a couple of people all in jogging gear, and her head was on a 360 degree swivel, Im famous whos looking at me type of thing, consumed with self regard. I must admit I felt rather disappointed.

[@pemman]

Excellent Kelly and what great coverage by the commentators :)

[@gwynjames]

What a lion she never gave up 🎉

[@chrismac2234]

From Ovett to Holmes I've watched every British runner and since. Steve Cram commentary. O I remember when Cram creamed the world as well. It makes me so proud xx

[@lordusmaximus147]

Every runner in this race won many big races,what a performance from the UK GIRL 😉

[@luckyspurs]

With Holmes v Mutola and Lewis Francis v Greene in the relay, what an amazing screaming at the telly Olympics it was.

[@TransoceanicOutreach]

Two of the medallists were taking drugs, and it wasn't the winner.

[@jontyarnold8522]

A British commentator wanting a Brit to win… that’s what sport is about… great race..

[@LeroyKinkade]

That guy is always putting her down, saying everyone else is slowing!

[@shanjones4869]

My neighbours could hear me yelling at the TV!😊

[@bodysuitguy]

The dude with the blonde hair almost had her at the line there. Phew!

[@Ross-od6ur]

Wow, watching this makes me realise how much I miss the fans in the Tokyo 😔

[@SA-bx9cp]

You can only beat who is in front of you but my memory is that several of the very top athletes were not competing in the 800m at these games and that KH best time for the 800m was well below the best in the world at the time. But gold medals mean everything.

[@classicsportclassictiyl8547]

KH's winning time was 1:56.39 it actually wasn't far off the world lead which was the Russian Tatyana Andrianova. As Crammy mentioned right at the start Andrianova had the world leading time going into the games which was 1:56.23. But considering the Russian champs were only a couple of weeks prior to the games she went missing in this final she got her tactics wrong by running with the pace set by Miles Clark which was quicker than the race needed to be. In fact the other 2 Russians in the field Svetlana Cherkasova and Natalya Khrushchelyova both were eliminated in the semi finals. Also another thing Kelly was unsure going into the games whether she was actually going to take part in the 800 even though she beat Ceplak at the Norwich Union International event in Birmingham in the lead up to Athens she only decided 5 days before the 800m that she was going to do it. It turned out to be an inspired decision.

[@archie6945]

Incredible finish from Ceplak. Hope Mutola doesn't feel too bad about this

[@mikelewis1436]

She finished faster than anyone...shades of Ian Stewart in the 5000m at Munich '72...too little, too late...

[@harrier5154]

They don't come any better than that! What a race!

[@Arun-nv8zi]

Tactically perfect. 🙏🏽❤️

[@hiramlopez1121]

what a battle!!!! the best won!!

[@gavinandrews843]

first 4 at half way were last 4

[@andrewpreston5022]

Brilliant commentary

[@kevinprior3549]

Ceplak... what a looker! ❤

[@RamonLezama-rd1lz]

Que final

[@KenDignam]

Legend 👍

[@kurtmcfc1629]

Hassan clearly based her style of Kelly, Homles gave me some great memories as a kid.

[@markhiggins8315]

In what way has Sifan Hassan based her style on Kelly Holmes? I can't see any resemblance in terms of their respective running style, tactics or come to that anything physical at all as they are built very differently and have a stride that is very different. Sorry I can see absolutely no resemblance between the two at all other than they both run the 1500m(which this race wasn't). This race was run at a distance that Sifan has not run at the highest level(which is saying something as Sifan has competed at a great variety of distances).

[@NedLudd717]

What a race

[@LucianoCattarin]

Incredible comeback of Jolanda Ceplak

[@resh..]

That was absolutely incredible actually ! 😮

[@Giskard1000]

Awesome

[@alessandrodelmonte5765]

Great competition but Holmes had not the perfect, armonic stile of running to day esprime KELLY HODGINKSON . AN other sky.

[@tommytempo1]

Indeed, but Kelly has two big G's in her possession!!

[@alessandrodelmonte5765]

@@tommytempo1 Ed è corretta durante la gara, saluta sempre tutte le avversarie con gentilezza,poi è bella ..molto. Insomma" for Budapest my first one is KEELY HODGINKSON " GOLD".

[@tommytempo1]

@@alessandrodelmonte5765 Hopefully, but she has to beat Mu and Moraa in a very fast pace.

[@classicsportclassictiyl8547]

@@tommytempo1 I have to say Hodginkson is very very good could she better than Dame Kelly if she keeps free of injury I think she could emulate her achievements

[@jaydaniels6172]

What a finish. I forgot how good this was.

[@wildernesstraining1957]

Ceplak outstanding finish having been hampered on the back straight. Finishing line just came a fraction too soon for her!