Dame Kelly Holmes, standing at exactly 5ft 3 (160 cm), is a British former middle-distance athlete whose petite stature became a defining part of her inspirational image.
Despite her small frame, Holmes achieved extraordinary success, winning double gold in the 800m and 1500m at the 2004 Athens Olympics. She often addressed misconceptions about her height, noting in The Independent that people think she's tall due to her dynamic TV presence and big strides, but affirmed, 'I'm only 5ft 3in.'
- Her 5ft 3in height fueled her mantra: 'It doesn't matter what size or shape you are, you can do pretty much anything if you put your mind to it.'
- In 2008, she founded the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust to support young athletes facing disadvantages.