Kelly Holmes has vowed to turn one of the quartet of Sussex girls under her wing into an Olympic champion in 2012.

Holmes will step up her commitment to Charlotte Best, Dani Christmas, Charlotte Browning and Emily Goodhall after hanging up her spikes on Tuesday.

The four are part of the On Camp With Kelly group of leading young athletes Holmes handpicked as potential stars of the future after winning double gold in Athens 15 months ago.

Crawley trio Best, Christmas and Goodhall and Chichester's Browning have already spent time with Holmes at her training camps in South Africa and Spain since the scheme began.

Holmes has taught them every aspect of what it takes to become the best from training, preparation for races, diet, mental attitude, how to cope with injuries and planning a racing schedule.

She will now be able to devote more time to mentoring her rising stars following her decision to withdraw from the Commonwealth Games next March.

"I am very passionate to see these girls grow," said Holmes. "I have been with them for a year and a half now and have seen remarkable changes.

"They have had some great success and I hope one of them will go on to be an Olympian in 2012.

"Giving something back and to be able to pass on my knowledge both good and bad because I have had so many different experiences is very rewarding.

"To see them develop is remarkable. I have seen such a change in them and it is amazing, it really does give me a buzz.

"I do not want to stop and just leave the girls. I have become very passionate about what they're doing and want this to be the start."

The boost of working alongside a double Olympic champion has already had a major impact on the development of the Sussex quartet.

Christmas won gold at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Australia 12 months ago shortly after returning from a month at Holmes' South African training base in Potchefstroom.

Best has been selected for the Sport England-funded World Class Development Programme while Goodhall became national under-17 800m champion both indoors and outdoors last season.

Browning has had a quiet season by her standards but all four will be confident of reaching new levels next year under Holmes' continued guidance.

Further training camps in South Africa and Spain are planned in the New Year and there will be special races for the group included on the Grand Prix circuit.

On top of that Holmes intends to take some of her group to the Commonwealth Games to experience what it is like to prepare for major competition.

Best, 20, said: "At our last get together Kelly told us she had a surprise in store for March and we guessed it would be something to do with the Commonwealth Games.

"We've not been told who will be going yet but hopefully I'll be chosen. The whole scheme is designed to help us become professional athletes and being at a major championships like that would be an amazing experience.

"Kelly has certainly helped me improve as an athlete. Her advice has made me more aware of the things I need to think about and work on and having someone like her as a mentor is a real inspiration.

"Her goal is for one of us to follow in her footsteps by winning Olympic gold in the future. I think there is enough talent in the group for it to happen."