The moment this comes out, I'm essentially getting rid of that fear: Holmes told the Sunday Mirror newspaper. I feel like I'm going to explode with excitement. Until 2000, it was illegal for gay, lesbian and bisexual people to serve in the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force (RAF), but the law has since been changed. The 52-year-old two-time gold medalist athlete also revealed how she struggled with her mental health as she had to keep several same-sex relationships she had during her time in the Women's Royal Army Corps secret, for fear of being court marshalled. Middle distance athlete Dame Kelly Holmes, who won the gold medals for Britain in 1500 and 800 metres during the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, said she was relieved to come out as gay after having hidden her sexuality for years.