Dianne Holum

Dianne Mary Holum (born May 19, 1951) is a retired American speed skater.

Dianne Holum
Holum in 1972
Personal information
Born (1951-05-19) May 19, 1951
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Height1.67 m (5 ft 6 in)
Weight56 kg (123 lb)
Sport
SportSpeed skating
ClubNorthbrook Speedskating Club
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)500 m – 43.59 (1972)
1000 m – 1:28.7 (1972)
1500 m – 2:18.51 (1972)
3000 m – 4:57.9 (1972)
Medal record
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place1968 Grenoble500 m
Bronze medal – third place1968 Grenoble1000 m
Gold medal – first place1972 Sapporo1500 m
Silver medal – second place1972 Sapporo3000 m
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place1967 DeventerAllround
Bronze medal – third place1971 InzellSprint
Silver medal – second place1972 EskilstunaSprint
Bronze medal – third place1972 HeerenveenAllround

In 1966, Holum became the youngest person to compete in the world speed skating championships. Next year she won bronze at the World Allround Championships. At the age of 16, Holum earned a silver medal in the 500 meter race at the 1968 Winter Olympics, finishing in a three way tie for second place. Holum added a bronze medal in the 1000 meter event.[1]

At the 1972 Winter Olympics, Holum won a gold medal in the 1500 meter event, setting an Olympic record in the process. After finishing sixth in the 1000 meter race, Holum ended her Olympic career by winning a silver medal on the 3000 meters.[1]

After winning bronze once more at the World Allround Championships later that same year, Holum retired from speed skating, only 20 years old. The following year, she began her career as a coach, helping put a 14-year-old Eric Heiden on the road to the 1980 Winter Olympics, where he won five gold medals. She also coached Eric's sister Beth Heiden. At the 1976 Olympics, she became the first female coach to a female speed skater.[1]

For her achievements as a speed skater, Holum was inducted in the National Speedskating Hall of Fame in 1986.[2] For her achievements as a coach, Holum was inducted in the International Women's Sports Hall of Fame in 1996.[3] She also coached her daughter Kirstin Holum, who was Junior World Allround Champion in 1997 and participated in the 1998 Winter Olympics.[1]

References

  1. Dianne Holum. sports-reference.com
  2. Speedskating Hall of Fame Speed Skaters. The National Speedskating Museum and Hall of Fame. Retrieved on 2007-08-30.
  3. International Women's Sports Hall of Fame. womenssportsfoundation.org
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