DOUBLE Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes reached new heights in her sporting career - when she tried her hand at rock climbing in the Peak District.
The middle distance runner swapped her spikes for a harness and roped up at Stanage Edge, near Sheffield.
Kelly was invited to try outdoor climbing by the British Mountaineering Council after she said she wanted to a try a new sporting challenge while covering the Olympics in Beijing.
The first challenge was to tackle a couple of 20 metre high routes.
Despite the wind, cold rock, and technical challenges, Dame Kelly battled to the top after Niall Grimes, the BMC's guidebook editor and well-known Sheffield climbing personality showed her the ropes.
She was also instructed by international mountain guide Rich Cross of Alpine Guides.
Kelly said: "I was nervous when I first looked at what I had to climb but I was up for the challenge and knew I was in safe hands with the BMC.
"It was both a thrill and a relief getting to the top. It's definitely something I'd like to do more but I'm not a big fan of the cold so next time I'll pick a warmer day."
She also met younger climbers who demonstrated bouldering - a more athletic type of climbing in which the rocks climbed aren't as high so ropes aren't needed.
Kelly said: "It was great meeting some of the young and talented local climbers. They are really good at what they do.
"I hadn't done any bouldering before but really enjoyed it and can definitely see the attraction."
Dave Turnbull, from the British Mountaineering Council, said: "We're really pleased Dame Kelly chose to try out rock climbing.
"It was fantastic to see an Olympic gold medallist finding out what rock climbing in Britain has to offer.
"Climbing is a very accessible sport, with over 300 indoor climbing walls throughout the UK - many within inner cities - and an abundance of rock varieties and superb climbing venues in the great outdoors."
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