By Sara Evans

Laura Weightman_July_7July 7 - Aviva On Camp with Kelly athlete Hannah England has been selected to compete in the 1500 metres alongside Laura Weightman (pictured left) for Team GB at the London 2012 Olympic Games.


Following her double triumph in Athens 2004, Dame Kelly Holmes (pictured below, right) hoped to make dreams come true for the next generation of talented middle distance athletes by helping them prepare for some of the challenges ahead of them via her mentoring and education programme, On Camp with Kelly.

Created that year with the backing of Aviva, a global insurance, savings and investment product company, Dame Kelly has supported over 80 athletes, assisting them with the often difficult transition from junior to senior athletics.

Eight years on, Dame Kelly is delighted that two athletes from the On Camp with Kelly programme will represent Britain at London 2012.

"Since winning my two Olympic Gold medals in Athens and retiring, my focus totally shifted to supporting the next generation of young athletes," she said.

"In 2005, just one year after I founded On Camp with Kelly, we won the London 2012 bid and since then, my ultimate goal has been to help these athletes compete at a home Olympic Games.

Dame Kelly_Holmes__Hannah_England_at_On_Camp_July_7_
"It has been a long term commitment and a very successful partnership with Aviva, who backed the programme from the very beginning.

"Anyone who works with me knows how much I have believed in and invested emotionally in the athletes on my On Camp with Kelly programme.

"I am so proud and excited that Hannah and Laura have been selected to represent Great Britain at London 2012.

"For me personally, it is the icing on the cake to see two athletes progress from promising athletes to members of Team GB and to have shared in their journey."

England (pictured above, left), who joined On Camp with Kelly in 2004, commented: "When I think back to my introduction to On Camp with Kelly it was actually a real turning point in my career and it was a real boost mentally to count Dame Kelly as one of my support team.

"It is a very long road to the top of international athletics and at times I really struggled but it was great to talk to someone who had really been through the highs and lows.

"I am just so excited to make my first Olympic Games; I can't wait to get out in there in the Olympic Stadium.

"The atmosphere is going to be unbelievable; last year was a big year for me but this is what I have been dreaming about ever since the World Championships."

For more information about On Camp with Kelly click here

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