Athens - Britain's double Olympic heroine Kelly Holmes has no intention to retire, she said on Sunday.
The 34-year-old, speaking after adding the 1 500 metres title to the 800m, also revealed that she had considered quitting the sport two years ago but had clung on in the hope she would win an Olympic title.
Now it seems likely she will carry on at least till the world championships in Helsinki next year.
"I don't plan to retire. I'm in the best shape of my life," said Holmes, who will carry the flag for Great Britain at the closing ceremony here on Sunday.
"The most important thing is to enjoy it.
"I could have given up. I had depression, everything. But I felt in my heart one day it might happen.
"This is my life, what I've dreamt of forever. No one can ever take it away. I will always be Olympic champion," Holmes told the BBC.
Holmes said that all the troubles she had with injuries during her career had been wiped away during a phenomenal week when she became only the seventh British athlete to win two golds at one Olympic Games by adding the 1500m crown to her 800m triumph.
"I still have a few races to do this season, which is going to be pretty tough," she said.
"The main thing is that I think I can enjoy the rest of my career.
"I have enjoyed parts of it, but because it's been such a struggle it wasn't so much enjoyment - it was because I wanted the Olympics so badly.
"Now I've got more than my dream come true. Whatever happens now, I don't really care.
"Nothing I do in my life will make me as happy as I am now."
Holmes said that rather than be depressed over the number of near misses she had had in previous Olympics and world championships it had in fact made her more determined to show that she was a cahmpion.
"All the ups and downs I've had, I think they've made me the athlete I am," Holmes said.
"It made me stronger. I've had every single emotion an athlete can have. Everything I've ever dreamed of has come true."
