Chris Holder facts for kids
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| Born | 24 September 1987 Sydney, New South Wales |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Australian |
| Career history | |
| Great Britain | |
| 2006–2007 | Isle of Wight |
| 2008–2013, 2015 | Poole |
| 2023–2025 | Sheffield |
| Poland | |
| 2007 | Wrocław |
| 2008–2021 | Toruń |
| 2022, 2024 | Ostrów |
| 2023 | Leszno |
| 2025 | Rybnik |
| Sweden | |
| 2007, 2012–2015 | Piraterna |
| 2008–2011, 2016–2018 | Lejonen |
| 2019–2022 | Indianerna |
| 2023 | Västervik |
| Denmark | |
| 2014 | Region Varde |
| 2024–2025 | Slangerup |
| Speedway Grand Prix statistics | |
| Starts | 94 |
| Podiums | 20 (5-8-7) |
| Finalist | 24 time |
| Winner | 5 times |
| Individual honours | |
| 2012 | World Champion |
| 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014 | Australian Champion |
| 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 | Australian Under-21 Champion |
| 2005, 2006 | Australian Long Track Champion |
| 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011 | NSW State Champion |
| 2008 | WA State Champion |
| 2014 | Golden Helmet of Pardubice |
| Team honours | |
| 2008 | Polish league champion |
| 2008, 2011, 2013 2014, 2015, 2023 |
UK league champion |
| 2009 | UK Pairs Champion |
| 2024 | UK Knockout Cup winner |
| 2008, 2009 | Swedish league champion |
| 2024 | Danish league champion |
Christopher Robert Holder (born September 24, 1987, in Sydney, New South Wales) is an Australian speedway rider. He became the World Speedway Champion in 2012. Chris has also won the Australian Championship five times. These wins were in 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2014.
Contents
Chris Holder's Speedway Journey
Early Success and Junior Titles
Chris Holder showed great talent from a young age. He won the Australian Under-21 Championship four times. These wins happened in 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008. He also finished second in the Under-21 World Championship in both 2007 and 2008.
Racing in the United Kingdom
Chris started his UK racing career with the Isle of Wight Islanders in 2006. In 2007, he won the Premier League Pairs Championship with his teammate Jason Bunyan. He also helped the Isle of Wight team win the Premier League Four-Team Championship that year.
In October 2007, Chris joined the Poole Pirates for the 2008 Elite League season. He helped the Poole Pirates win the Elite League Championship. This meant he won a league title with all three of his teams in 2008. In 2023, he joined Sheffield Tigers and helped them win the UK league championship. He also won the Knockout Cup with Sheffield in 2024.
Racing in Poland and Sweden
In 2007, Chris rode for Atlas Wrocław in Poland's top league, the Speedway Ekstraliga. In 2008, he signed with KS Toruń in the Polish Ekstraliga. He helped Toruń win the league championship that year.
Chris also had great success in Sweden. He won the Swedish Allsvenskan in 2007. He then won the Elitserien in 2008 and 2009 with the team Lejonen. After Lejonen moved down a league, Chris joined the Swedish champions Piraterna.
Representing Australia
Chris has proudly represented the Australian team many times. He helped Australia finish third in the 2007 Speedway World Cup. He also rode for Australia in the 2008 Speedway World Cup. In 2014, he captained the Australian team to a third-place finish in the 2014 Speedway World Cup Final. In 2023, he was part of the Australian team that finished fourth in the 2023 Speedway World Cup final.
Becoming a World Champion
Grand Prix Victories
Chris won the British Speedway Grand Prix in Cardiff in 2010 and 2012. These were big wins on his path to becoming a world champion. He also won the Elite League Riders' Championship in 2012.
The 2012 World Championship
On October 7, 2012, Chris Holder achieved his biggest dream. He became the Speedway World Champion! He joined a special group of Australian riders who have won this top individual prize. This was a huge moment in his career.
Overcoming Injuries
Chris faced some tough challenges with injuries. In July 2013, he had a serious crash during a British league match. He suffered a dislocated and broken hip, a broken pelvis, and injuries to his shoulder and heel. These injuries ended his season early.
Despite this, Chris showed amazing strength. He won his fifth Australian Individual Speedway Championship in January 2014. This was a fantastic comeback after his serious injuries.
In 2015, Chris had another setback. A crash during practice for the Australian Championship caused a wrist injury. He needed surgery to fix it.
Strong Comeback in 2016
After a challenging 2015 season, Chris bounced back in 2016. On October 22, 2016, he won the Australian SGP. This victory helped him finish fourth in the 2016 Speedway Grand Prix standings. It was his first Grand Prix win since 2012. He rode in seven of the eleven finals that year, showing his return to top form.
Family Connections in Speedway
Speedway runs in the Holder family! Chris's brother, James Holder, also rode in the UK. His younger brother, Jack Holder, is also a successful speedway rider and a World team champion.
Major Achievements
World Individual Championship Results
- 2010 Speedway Grand Prix: 8th place
- 2011 Speedway Grand Prix: 8th place
- 2012 Speedway Grand Prix: World Champion
- 2013 Speedway Grand Prix: 12th place
- 2014 Speedway Grand Prix: 7th place
- 2015 Speedway Grand Prix: 8th place
- 2016 Speedway Grand Prix: 4th place
- 2017 Speedway Grand Prix: 10th place
- 2018 Speedway Grand Prix: 12th place
Grand Prix Wins
- 2010: British Grand Prix
- 2011: Swedish Grand Prix
- 2012: European Grand Prix
- 2012: British Grand Prix
- 2016: Australian Grand Prix
Speedway World Cup Team Results
- 2007: 3rd place in Leszno, Poland
- 2008: 4th place in Vojens, Denmark
- 2009: 2nd place in Leszno, Poland
- 2011: 2nd place in Gorzów Wielkopolski, Poland
- 2012: 2nd place in Målilla, Sweden
- 2014: 3rd place in Bydgoszcz, Poland
- 2015: 4th place in Vojens, Denmark
- 2016: 4th place in Manchester, England
- 2023: 4th place in Wrocław, Poland
Individual Under-21 World Championship Results
- 2006: 12th place in Terenzano, Italy
- 2007: 2nd place in Ostrów Wielkopolski, Poland
- 2008: 2nd place in Pardubice, Czech Republic
