Steven Holcomb

Steven Holcomb

Holcomb at the 2010 Winter Olympics
Personal information
Nickname(s)	Holky, Holcomb, Steve
Nationality	United States
Born	(1980-04-14) April 14, 1980 Park City, Utah
Residence	Colorado Springs, Colorado Lake Placid, New York Park City, Utah
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Website	Team Holcomb
Sport
Country	United States
Sport	Bobsleigh
Team	US National Team
Turned pro	1998
Coached by	Brian Shimer
Achievements and titles
World finals	2012 FIBT World Champion 4-Man 2012 FIBT World Champion 2-Man 2012 FIBT World Champion Team Event 2009 FIBT World Champion 4-Man
Olympic finals	2014 – Bronze Medal 4-man 2014 – Bronze Medal 2-man 2010 – Gold Medal 4-man 2010 – 6th place 2-man, 2006 – 6th place 4-man 2006 – 14th 2-man
Medal record Men's Bobsleigh Representing the  United States Olympic Games 2010 Vancouver Four-man 2014 Sochi Two-man 2014 Sochi Four-man World Championships 2009 Lake Placid Four-man 2012 Lake Placid Four-man 2012 Lake Placid Two-man 2012 Lake Placid Mixed team 2013 St. Moritz Mixed team 2008 Altenberg Mixed team 2009 Lake Placid Two-man 2009 Lake Placid Mixed team 2011 Königssee Four-man 2013 St. Moritz Four-man World Cup Championships 2006–07 Combined 2006–07 Two-man 2009–10 Combined 2009–10 Four-man 2006–07 Four-man 2010–11 Four-man 2007–08 Combined 2010–11 Combined World Cup Single Events 2006–07 Cesana Pariol USA 1 Four Man 2006–07 Cesana Pariol USA 1 Two Man 2006–07 Igls USA 1 Four Man 2006–07 Cortina USA 1 Two Man 2006–07 Cortina USA 1 Four Man 2007–08 Park City USA 1 Four Man 2007–08 Park City USA 1 Two Man 2007–08 Calgary USA 1 Four Man 2008–09 Park City USA 1 Four Man 2008–09 Park City (make-up race) USA 1 Four Man 2009–10 Lake Placid USA 1 Four Man 2009–10 Winterberg USA 1 Four Man 2009–10 Cesana USA 1 Four Man 2010–11 Lake Placid USA 1 Four Man 2010–11 Whistler USA 1 Four Man 2012–13 Lake Placid USA 1 Two Man 2012–13 Park City USA 1 Two Man 2012–13 Whistler USA 1 Two Man 2006–07 Lake Placid USA 1 Two Man 2006–07 Park City USA 1 Two Man 2006–07 Calgary USA 1 Two Man 2006–07 Königssee USA 1 Four Man 2006–07 Winterberg USA 1 Four Man 2007–08 Calgary USA 1 Two Man 2007–08 Konigssee USA 1 Four Man 2007–08 Lake Placid USA 1 Four Man 2008–09 Altenberg USA 1 Two Man 2008–09 Vancouver USA 1 Four Man 2008–09 Igls USA 1 Four Man 2009–10 Lake Placid USA 1 Two Man 2009–10 Königssee USA 1 Team Event 2009–10 Königssee USA 1 Four Man 2009–10 Altenberg USA 1 Four Man 2011–12 La Plagne USA 1 Two Man 2011–12 Igls USA 1 Four Man 2012–13 Park City USA 1 Four Man 2012–13 Lake Placid USA 1 Four Man 2007–08 Lake Placid USA 1 Two Man 2008–09 Igls USA 1 Two Man 2008–09 Winterberg USA 1 Four Man 2009–10 Cesana USA 1 Two Man 2010–11 Igls USA 1 Four Man 2011–12 Igls USA 1 Two Man 2012–13 La Plagne USA 1 Two Man

Steven Holcomb (born April 14, 1980 in Park City, Utah) is an American bobsledder who has competed since 1998.^[1][2] At the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, he won the 4-man bobsled event for the United States, its first gold medal in that event since 1948.^[3] At the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, he finished sixth in the four-man event and 14th in the two-man event.^[4][5]

Early career

Holcomb learned to ski when he was only 2 years old. Being born in the well known ski town of Park City, Utah his mother would take him skiing at every opportunity. He began competitively ski racing when he was only 6 years old at the main resort of Park City. He began competitively ski racing for the Park City Ski Team for the next twelve years. During this time he was also an avid athlete in local sports playing soccer, football, basketball, baseball, and running track. In 1998 he went to a local USA Bobsled team try-out and scored just enough points to be invited to the National Team Camp that included the National Push Championships. He finished 8th place and was invited to stay for an additional week to train with the National Team. Despite his 8th-place finish which qualified him for the National Team he was skipped over because of his small stature and young age. After placing 5th at the National Team Trials in early October 1998 at the Utah Olympic Park he went on to attend university at the University of Utah. Shortly following the naming of the 1998 World Cup Team, an injury caused the withdrawal of one member. A spot opened up and November 3, Holcomb was asked to join the World Cup team in Calgary Alberta for the first World Cup race where he would push for driver Brian Shimer. Holcomb went on to have an above average push career as a pusher for drivers Jim Herberich, Mike Dionne, Todd Hays, and Brian Shimer. Shortly before the 2002 Winter Olympics he was cut from Brian Shimer's team, and replaced with Dan Steele, a veteran from the 1998 Winter Olympics. At the Utah Olympic Park for the 2002 Winter Olympics he then served as a bobsled forerunner, someone who tests the bobsled course prior to competition. Though Holcomb was not competing, the experience did allow him time on an Olympic course in front of fans.

After leaving the military with an honorable discharge in June 2006, Holcomb began to compete on the World Cup circuit. Starting with the 2004–05 season, Holcomb consistently was the second and third ranked American driver. In the 2006–2007 season Holcomb (with team members Jovanovic and Kreitzburg) won the two-man World Cup Championship, while his four-man team (with Jovanovic, Kreitzburg, and Mesler) finished second. As Holcomb rose through the ranks of American bobsledders however, a degenerative eye condition, initially diagnosed in 2002, began to affect his daily life and competitive skills. A non-invasive surgical procedure, C3-R, provided a measure of correction during the 2007–08 season, allowing him to earn three gold, three silver, and one bronze medals.

Career

Holcomb and his two-man and four-man teams took home 2 golds, 3 silvers and 2 bronzes and then won the first World Championship in four-man bobsled since 1959. Additionally, he piloted his two-man sled to a bronze medal.

In Vancouver, Holcomb finished 2nd in his four-man sled in the only World Cup race at the newly finished Whistler track. Holcomb and his Night Train (4-man)/Night Hawk (2-man) are competing on the FIBT World Cup circuit. In the first three tour stops to date, his squad with teammates Steve Mesler, Justin Olsen and Curt Tomasevicz has won gold in the 4-man at Lake Placid & Cesana (Torino 2006 Olympic track) and silver in the 4-Man at Lake Placid and bronze in Cesana.

The crew of the four man USA-1 at the 2010 Winter Olympics with their gold medals. From left to right: Holcomb, Justin Olsen, Steve Mesler, and Curtis Tomasevicz.

Holcomb won four medals at the FIBT World Championships: a gold (four-man: 2009) and three bronzes (two-man: 2009, mixed team: 2008, 2009). He also won the 2007 Two-man World Cup title,^[6] won the 2007 combined World Cup title,^[7] and finished second in the 2007 Four-Man World Cup standings.^[8] He became the first American man to win the Two-Man World Cup title. Holcomb also won the 2007 and 2010 Combined World Cup titles, and the 2010 4-Man World Cup title.

It was announced on 17 January 2010 that Holcomb made the US team in both the two-man and four-man events for the 2010 Winter Olympics. On February 17, Holcomb led the four-man US bobsled team to a gold-medal victory, ending a 62-year gold medal drought in US Olympic four-man bobsled competition.

Holcomb qualified for the 2014 Sochi Olympics in both the two-man and four-man bobsled. On February 16, Holcomb and brakeman Steve Langton won the bronze medal in the two-man competition, ending yet another 62-year medal drought in US Olympic two-man competition.^[9]

Military service

Holcomb served as a soldier in the Utah Army National Guard for seven years,^[10] from March 1999 until July 2006. During his Army National Guard service, he served as a combat engineer in the 1457th Engineering Battalion. He took part in the Army World Class Athlete Program (WCAP) for seven years. At the end of 2006, he received an Honorable Discharge from service. While in the National Guard, he earned the following Medals: Army Achievement Medal; Army Commendation Medal; Good Conduct Medal; Army Presidential Unit Citation; Army Superior Unit Award; Army Service Ribbon.

Education

Holcomb attended The Winter Sports School in Park City, graduating in 1997. Holcomb is working on his bachelor's degree at DeVry University in computer science. His projected graduation date is 2016.

Scouting career

Steven attained the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America (BSA).^[11]

References

1. ↑ "Steven Holcomb" (PDF). Men's Bobsled Biographies. U.S. Bobsled & Skeleton Federation. 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-10-12. 
2. ↑ "Holcomb, Steven (USA)". Results Database. WIGE MEDIA AG. 2006. Retrieved 2007-10-12. 
3. ↑ "U.S. claims first four-man gold medal since 1948". Winter Olympic Games 2010 Results. 2010-02-27. Archived from the original on 2010-03-02. Retrieved 2010-02-27. 
4. ↑ Krastev, Todor (2006-02-27). "Bobsleigh Fours Olympic Games 2006 Torino (ITA) – Saturday 25.02 Cesana Pariol". Winter Olympic Games 2006 Results. Retrieved 2007-10-12. 
5. ↑ Krastev, Todor (2006-02-20). "Bobsleigh Doubles Olympic Games 2006 Torino (ITA) – Sunday 19.02 Cesana Pariol". Winter Olympics Games 2006 Results. Retrieved 2007-10-12. 
6. ↑ List of two-man bobsleigh World Cup champions since 1985 Archived April 9, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
7. ↑ List of combined men's bobsleigh World Cup champions: 1985–2007 Archived May 22, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
8. ↑ List of four-man bobsleigh World Cup champions since 1985 Archived April 9, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
9. ↑ http://www.teamusa.org/USA-Bobsled-Skeleton-Federation/Features/2014/February/17/Holcomb-and-Langton-break-two-man-bobsled-Olympic-medal-drought-with-bronze-medal-finish
10. ↑ Hipps, Tim (15 January 2009). "Military bobsledders dominate 4-man National Championships". U.S. Army MWR. Retrieved 22 November 2009. 
11. ↑ http://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2014/02/14/half-of-team-usas-night-train-bobsled-team-are-eagle-scouts/

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Steven Holcomb.

• Official website
• Steven Holcomb on Facebook
• [http://www.fibt.com/index.php?id=47&tx_bzdstaffdirectory_pi1[showUid]=100510&tx_bzdstaffdirectory_pi1[backPid]=93 Steven Holcomb] at the Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing
• Steven Holcomb at the United States Olympic Committee
• Steven Holcomb on Twitter