Radcliffe has struggled with Bronchitis recently and clocked up a disappointing time of 72 minutes and three seconds in Sunday's Vienna half-marathon.

Double-Olympic gold medallist Holmes knows the 38-year-old's preparation has been affected and thinks a healthy Radcliffe would produce the displays expected of her.

Radcliffe's poor form has lowered expectations and Holmes believes that could work to her advantage as the pressure to succeed will not be as great.

"I think in a way (the pressure will reduce), I haven't spoken to Paulo for a while, I know she's had Bronchitis and how that's affected her and her preparations and things, I'm sure it has a big effect on it," Holmes told Sky Sports.

"I also think for her the pressure to be taken off will be great. Over the last three Olympic cycles it's always been the golden girl, the medal around the neck, and it hasn't gone as well as she'd have liked. The pressure and expectations are so high that it can make people fall.

"This time hopefully if the bronchitis and her health is fine, she's so resilient, such a fighter and an amazing athlete. If she's healthy she'll bounce back and do well."

Exciting

The Olympics are now 102 days away and Holmes, who is currently supporting judo hopefuls, knows it is an exciting time for all concerned.

"It's getting so close," he added on the Games in London. "It's getting very exciting.

"The pressure is really on because the Games are the biggest ever in a calendar, it's a four-year period and we're hosting them in London. It's going to be one of those things that everyone wants to be in that team.

"There's also there that key kind of period of time where, people like these judo players behind me, will be really focusing on the last and final preparation.

"Qualification, big events that are coming, because they compete continually up until the Olympic and Paralympic Games."

Support

Holmes was a judo champion during her time in the Army and she remains a huge fan of the sport.

"I was Army British judo champion," she concluded. "If I hadn't been an athlete I'd have taken this sport a bit more seriously.

"I love this sport because I think it has three areas. It has the art of sport, the discipline, the focus and technical side, then it has physical education, the kind of everyone takes part, there's something for everyone.

"There are all shapes and sizes. You can be strong, fast or have the mental approach. It's an Olympic sport, which is the tough end of this sport.

"It's brilliant one for young kids from the part of self-defence to then perfecting technique and experience."