Holmes’ grit will inspire Meadows

Former world 800 metres bronze medallist Jenny Meadows believes she can emulate Kelly Holmes’ “fairytale ending” after a stress fracture ruled her out of August’s World Championships in Moscow.

The 32-year-old described herself as “beyond devastated” after learning she will miss the rest of the season as scans revealed the severity of the injury to the left femur.

Meadows said: “We had scans yesterday and both [coach and husband] Trevor [Painter] and I are beyond devastated and very shocked to hear of such a severe injury. Especially on the back of 2012 as well.”

Meadows believes she could re-tread the steps taken by Holmes, who gained double Olympic gold in Athens in 2004 after a series of crippling injuries.

“That would be brilliant – I’m running in Kelly’s footsteps in more ways than I wanted to with injuries,” Meadows said.

“It makes me realise how lucky I was not to pick up injuries in my career. I always looked at her and wondered how she keeps coming back.

“It makes me think I can have the fairytale ending Kelly did.”