Olympians Kelly Holmes and Sally Gunnell’s call to middle-aged Brits who ‘hated PE’

Olympians Kelly Holmes and Sally Gunnell’s call to middle-aged Brits who ‘hated PE’National campaign targets generation of middle-aged adults who were traumatised by PE lessons - saying it’s vital to start exercise now if you want to enjoy old ageCommentsNewsMartin Bagot Health and Science Editor00:01, 21 Apr 2026View 5 ImagesSally Gunnell has spoken of the importance of being active in middle-ageOlympic champions Dame Kelly Holmes and Sally Gunnell are calling on middle aged Brits to exercise as polling shows many are still put off by traumatic PE lessons at school.‌Sporting legends are joining a nationwide campaign targeting people aged 50 to 65, saying this is a crucial period for people to be active to enjoy the best possible later life. The poll of 2,400 mid-lifers suggests four million still feeling traumatised by physical education (PE) and were put off exercise and sport for life by lessons 30 or 40 years ago.‌The survey showed 40% remember feeling self conscious about their body and 40% saying they were picked last for teams.‌View 5 ImagesIconic image of Dame Kelly Holmes winning her 800m Olympic gold at the 2004 Games in Athens(Image: Hulton Archive)READ MORE: ‘Cancer broke my back in 11 places - now I’m climbing Snowdon’READ MORE: Whether you exercise in morning or evening makes all the difference, study showsNow sporting figures including TV presenter Gabby Logan and Dame Denise Lewis have joined a campaign to help mid-lifers get past the bad memories, arguing sports groups and classes are now much more inclusive.Dame Kelly, the 2004 double-Gold winning middle distance runner, said: “The benefits of sport and exercise are endless. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a professional athlete competing on a world stage, or a busy parent who has just managed to carve out a few hours for yourself one evening a week to head along to your local netball group.‌“It’s about self-care, making new connections, feeling team spirit, supporting mental health, getting outsi...