Dame Kelly Holmes reveals depression battle to Prince Harry

Dame Kelly Holmes has revealed she battled depression "throughout" her athletics career.

The Olympian was one of several sports stars who opened up to Prince Harry during an event for his mental health charity Heads Together.

Kelly, who won gold in the 800m and 1500m in the 2004 Olympics, said: "It's really only been the last three or four years that I've been more open.

"No-one knew at all what I was going through. I was having treatment and they thought I was crying because the treatment was so hard.

"I feel a lot stronger, even in the last 18 months."

Former European sprint champion Iwan Thomas also spoke publicly about his depression for the first time after a spate of injuries ended his career.

He told Harry: "I'd loads of little niggling injuries whereby I looked like I was going to get back and I could train three or four days a week.

"Then I had a couple of seasons where it looked like I was going to run fast again, then another injury would come in.

"I kept trying and trying, thinking 'one more season, I can get back', that's all I wanted to do was get back to where I wanted to be, then quit, and I never got back."

The event took place at Kensington Palace, where Harry put on a BBQ.

Former England and Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand and Olympic gold medallists Victoria Pendleton were also among the guests.

The prince said the ethos behind Heads Together was to "get people to realise whether you're a white van driver or an Olympian it actually makes no difference".

He added: "One of the biggest issues is realising it yourself anyway.

"When you're suffering from depression and anxiety you start to feel as thought there's something going on but unless someone tells you what anxiety is, how the hell are you supposed to know."