Saturday, May 19, 2001
Holland's Olympic quest far from over
By KAREN CLARK -- Calgary Sun
In nordic combined, athletes get to do two things.
Hurl their body off a ski jump and race their heart out across the snow.
"I'd rather ski jump any day," said Chris Holland, Canada's top-ranked athlete in the sport. "It's not as physically exhausting.
"In cross country, you can be skiing in Norway and you stop and look around, and it's breathtaking. In ski jumping, it's a thrill sport."
Calgary's Holland is determined to earn a berth in nordic combined for the 2002 Salt Lake City Games.
And he knows it's not an easy task.
"It's going to be really, really hard," said the 21-year-old. "But not impossible."
Holland's goal is a tall order considering only one nordic athlete from Canada has been to the Olympics since 1956 -- and that was as a host entry in 1988.
But Holland's been chipping away at the task.
"Chris has made huge strides in the sport," said Holland's coach Greg Poirier.
"No one from Canada has ever qualified for the World Cup 'A' circuit."
Holland made the cut for last season by placing 10th at the 2000 junior world championships.
He had a tough start last fall, placing a disappointing 46th and 47th in the first two races.
Holland then decided to come home in December for a 'B' race in Calgary where he captured his first World Cup medal.
Holland's elation was brief as his exhausted body succumbed to a bad cold shortly after.
"I missed three competitions," said Holland.
"All of our competitions are important, it was devastating."
Unable to earn valuable points for several weeks, Holland finished the season ranked fourth on the 'B' circuit.
Spots one, two and three qualify for the 'A'.
"I'm sure Chris would have been on the 'A' if he hadn't got sick," said Poirier.
Without a spot on the 'A' circuit, there's no chance for Holland to earn the two, top-16 finishes needed for a Salt Lake City berth.
So this fall, Holland has potentially six races to move up on the 'B', and make the grade on the `A'.
Considering Holland's world ranking went from No. 97 to No. 57 in the past year and he's placed 28th at the world champs before, there is a chance.
"A hard summer of training can do a lot," said Holland.
"I'm training really hard. I want it bad."
And Poirier thinks qualifying for the Games is only the first step in Holland's career.
"At 21, Chris' abilities are far from realized," said Poirier. "By 2006, he'll ready for his best performance and a medal."
Holland knows his Olympic dream extends beyond 2002.
But he most definitely would like to fly through the air and slide along the snow at the next Winter Games.
Not the one after.
"It's been my goal since I was a kid," said Holland.
"I've been dedicated to my sport for so long. And I haven't had that feeling of what it's like to make the Olympics.
"I hope to feel that real soon."
2002 Games Nordic Combined Coverage
