After unveiling evidence which shows that 80 per cent of the athletes being mentored by Dame Kelly Holmes and her team have fared better than athletes of comparable ability outside the scheme, Dr Anna Waters added that interviews with runners had led to the formulation of a six-step mentoring model, which could be of general use in sport beyond next year's Olympics.

The six key areas, ranked by athletes in order of importance, are securing a mentor, training with other comparable athletes, effective preparation, learning about fitness, organising realistic goals and staying healthy through a combination of diet, exercise, and mental and physical work.

"These six steps can also perhaps be used as a template for other sports, setting up legacy programmes in the wake of London 2012," Waters said.

"You don't have to be mentored by an Olympic champion for this to work, it just needs to be someone sympathetic who has more experience in your area than you have.

"Post-2012, people could start setting up their own programmes using this information as a basis."

Holmes, who appeared alongside six of the most successful of the 45 runners currently involved in the scheme she began with Aviva's sponsorship in 2004, added: "When we started this project, London 2012 wasn't even in the future.

"So it was never about getting athletes to the Olympic Games.

"That has only become part of the mindset since the 2012 Games were won.

"We have had girls running in the Commonwealth Games and the World Championships.

"Fingers crossed, they can be at London 2012 too."


The double Olympic gold medallist of 2004 used the occasion to hand out awards to all six athletes, with Hannah England, who joined the course in its first year, getting the trophy for Athlete of the Year having won silver in this year's World Championships 1,500 metres final in Daegu.

"For a mentor to be effective you need to know them well and I have developed that relationship with Kelly over the last seven years," England commented.

"The support of Kelly and 'On Camp With Kelly' will be crucial in the build-up to London 2012.

"Kelly has been there and done it herself and she knows exactly what you need to hear."

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