Olympic heptathlon champion Denise Lewis has shared a remarkably candid and personal musical journey, revealing the songs that have powered her to glory, moved her to tears, and even the tune she imagines for her final farewell.
From Nursery Rhymes to Gold Medal Anthems
The sporting legend's earliest musical memory is chilling yet epic. She recalls falling in love with Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody while at nursery school, watching its groundbreaking video on Top of the Pops. Her first purchased single was Anita Ward's disco classic Ring My Bell, bought from a record shop in Wolverhampton for her mother's player.
Lewis's connection between music and peak performance is profound. She credits Whitney Houston's One Moment in Time, released during the summer of the 1988 Olympics, with changing her life. The song embodied her soaring ambition and fuelled the passion that eventually led her to an Olympic gold medal in Sydney 2000.
Karaoke Courage and Dancefloor Routines
Not shy of a performance, Lewis recently took to karaoke after Soccer Aid and belted out Whitney Houston's powerhouse ballad I Have Nothing, earning a standing ovation from the crowd. When it comes to partying with her girlfriends, the routine is set: as soon as Cameo's Candy plays, they take over the dancefloor.
Her musical knowledge runs deep, inexplicably knowing every lyric to a-ha's Take on Me and The Sun Always Shines on TV. Yet, there's one ubiquitous track she's had enough of: Slade's Merry Xmas Everybody. After over 50 years of festive play, she admits she "can't deal with it" in shops.
Morning Motivation and Final Farewells
To conquer the day, Lewis turns to a surprisingly feisty source. Her morning alarm is set to Megan Thee Stallion's Savage, a track she finds upbeat, empowering, and perfect for owning the day ahead. In contrast, Coldplay's The Scientist has the opposite effect, moving her to tears even at the mere thought of it.
When asked about her funeral song, Lewis joked about living forever, but conceded that if necessary, she could imagine Frank Sinatra's My Way belting out during her cremation or burial. She also confessed a secret soft spot for Céline Dion's My Heart Will Go On, a song she often claims to hate.
Denise Lewis is currently working with Scottish Widows on a campaign to help women ensure career breaks do not negatively impact their long-term financial futures.
