First Kelly Holmes, now 52, finally revealed what just about everyone in athletics knew - that she is gay.

Dame Kelly who won double gold over 800 and 1500 meters at the Athens Games in 2004, says she realised she was gay at 17 when she joined the army where homosexuality was then illegal.

She has never talked about her sexuality before but it may be that she was prompted to do so by the positive reaction which followed the decision by Blackpool's Jake Daniels to become the first UK footballer to come out two months ago.

But now she tells a Sunday tabloid: "I needed to do this now, for me."

She said that like several older personalities, she was afraid to be open about her sexuality after forging their careers in more homophobic times.

During the past 34 years, she said her life had been consumed with fear and described how after winning gold in Athens, she was played with worry that she will be out.

Coming out is essentially getting rid of that fear

Gay rights campaigners have welcomed her decision, hoping that it will encourage older sportspersons likewise after forging their careers in more homophobic times.

One former sports star who is most definitely not gay is Sharron Davies, once the pin-up girl of British swimming.

However, she has now "come out" fighting over the transgender issue now bedevilling sport almost as much as doping.

Not that she is trans either but she has decided to take up the situation as vigorously as she did over doping by Eastern European rivals when she was competing.

She too has taken to the public print to back the controversial move by FINA, swimming's international governing body, to ban female transgender athletes from competition.

Moreover, she has called upon every other sport to do the same.

Sharron, a fit and vivacious 59-year-old, who won silver at Moscow in 1980, hailed FINA's imposition of a policy that women who have "experienced any part of male puberty can no longer swim in women’s races".

Sharron, MBE, remains driven by what she believes was an injustice in not winning the gold in Moscow, believing some rivals were druggies and has campaigned ferociously and vociferously for transgender women to be prevented from participating in female competition.

She has targeted the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for not properly "policing" Olympic sports.

"The IOC never fails to disappoint me," she said.

"Decade after decade after decade."

She is also at odds with cycling and the International Cycling Federation (UCI), for continuing to base transgender inclusion on testosterone levels, admitting they could not eliminate all advantages held by a transgender athlete.

She has penned a full-page article in the Daily Mail arguing her case.

"I think what cycling has done is disgraceful," she said.

"They have basically said they are happy for female athletes to compete with a disadvantage.

"I’m afraid that is not acceptable in a world where we don’t believe in sex discrimination.

"I am so proud of FINA for being the first to be brave enough to stand up for women athletes."

She adds: "The trans debate is toxic.

"It’s made my life hell that female athletes must speak up."

She claims she has received death threats during her campaign but remains resilient and defiant.

"You must face down disappointment and criticism and carry on.

"The mental resilience I developed as an Olympic swimmer - I competed in the 1976, 1980 and 1992 Games - has served me well as I have campaigned over the past four years for fair sport for females in the face of a ferocious campaign by a small but aggressive trans activist lobby."

Good on you, Kelly and Sharron.

Sport should be saluting you.