EXCLUSIVE: Dame Kelly Holmes has shared what England players might be feeling today after carrying the nation's hopes on their backs only to miss out on a major win17:55, 16 Jul 2026Updated 11:40, 17 Jul 2026Former Olympic runner Dame Kelly Holmes, who has years of experience when it comes to carrying the nations hopes on her shoulders after countless Olympics, World Championships, and Commonwealth Games, has shared her insight into what England players are likely feeling today after last night.‌Wednesday night saw England lose the semi-final against Argentina last night, with a devastating score of 2-1 after an otherwise successful tournament, with Dame Kelly agreeing that they must feel "absolutely gutted".‌"When you play for your country, there's something different. The pride is very different. It means a lot because the whole country is behind you, not just your team, not just the fans for that team. It's the whole country, and they're they're so reliant on you, and I think with football, because we won it so long ago, like 60 years, is always living off of hope," Dame Kelly told The Mirror.‌She wanted to emphasise that despite the fact they shouldn't beat themselves up, they will inevitably feel they've let down the country: "They feel like they let the fans down, and it's not that they let the fans down because we all had so much hope on them."I think as a sports person, you always feel like you've let people down, you've let your family down, you feel like you've let everyone around you down that supported you, let your fans down, your coaching, the team that have been there. If you make one mistake or not mistake, you feel like you goes onto your shoulders."‌"All of them will be gutted, absolutely gutted. It tears you apart as a sports person not achieving your dream, it really does. And it take a while to get over it because obviously time needs to heal."She added that the "biggest positive" is that they are in it together: "It was a collective team that didn't get through, and I think that that's almost the biggest positive they can take out of this one because not one person is going to get vilified." She added: "And they did us proud, brought the nation together. What we needed at this point."‌The sportswoman also reminded fans that while they might be disappointed, they won't be as disappointed as the players: "We're not the people who are having our hearts ripped out of us in that sense. We feel bad and down, and we wanted the halation of it, but we weren't the ones on the pitch with the pressure and the expectations." She added that for the footballers, this will likely stay with them forever: "[The loss] is going to be in their heads and their psyche every time for it until they get to - if they get to - go in the England team again. That's only time that that feeling will ever go, that's going to be with them for the rest of their lives, and we forget that."Dame Kelly herself has been open about the challenges in her own career, frequently facing injuries, and struggling with her mental health, while also remaining closeted for decades with the constant fear of someone finding out about her sexuality. She reflected that her career would have certainly looked very different if she had been able to be openly gay."I would have had an easier ride in my athletics career, and I would have won more golds and silvers, more silvers and bronzes," she reflected. "My career and all that, plus breakdowns, self-harm, depression, all of those things. Like, would my journey have been easier? Yeah."‌She added importantly: "I find that my career has evolved post-it because I can talk about how actually, even at your depths of despair, you can be a very strong person."This strength and mental wellness is now something she is hoping to share with more people as she is now teaming up with Solgar to launch a nationwide competition giving UK runners of all abilities the chance to train with one of Britain's greatest sporting legends and get expert insight into training, recovery and nutrition."I want people to gain some knowledge that they may not have, and also the motivation and mindset. Learn more about how you can flick your switch and make yourself achieve something for yourself.‌"I think the only time that you completely giving yourself 100% you is when you're doing fitness because you've got to really focus on what you're doing," she said. "I hope that I can just guide them to get more out of themselves."The competition is open until August 31, and winners will receive mentoring sessions with Dame Kelly, group training sessions, and nutritional advice, and it's for everyone. "It's actually open to anybody, not just people who feel like they're elite sports people, and that's is anyone that enjoys running and wants to get some tips," said Dame Kelly.Article continues belowDouble Olympic Champion, Dame Kelly Holmes, is teaming up with Solgar, a leading provider of high-quality nutritional supplements and the official wellness partner of the Great Run Series, to launch a nationwide competition giving runners across the UK the chance to train with one of Britain's greatest sporting legends. The competition is open until 31 August 2026 via a dedicated online entry form available hereLike this story? 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