Steven Holcomb facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Steven Holcomb

Holcomb at the 2014 Winter Olympics (note: the bronze in image was later upgraded to silver)
Personal information
Nickname(s)	Holky, Holcomb, Steve
Born	(1980-04-14)April 14, 1980 Park City, Utah, U.S.
Died	May 6, 2017(2017-05-06) (aged 37) Lake Placid, New York, U.S.
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Website	Team Holcomb
Sport
Country	United States
Sport	Bobsleigh
Team	U.S. National Team
Turned pro	1998
Coached by	Brian Shimer
Achievements and titles
World finals	2009 FIBT World Champion 4-Man 2012 FIBT World Champion 4-Man 2012 FIBT World Champion 2-Man 2012 FIBT World Champion Team Event
Olympic finals	2006 – 6th place 4-man 2006 – 14th 2-man 2010 – Gold Medal 4-man 2010 – 6th place 2-man 2014 – Silver Medal 4-man 2014 – Silver Medal 2-man
Medal record Men's bobsleigh Representing the  United States Olympic Games Gold 2010 Vancouver Four-man Silver 2014 Sochi Two-man Silver 2014 Sochi Four-man World Championships Gold 2009 Lake Placid Four-man Gold 2012 Lake Placid Four-man Gold 2012 Lake Placid Two-man Gold 2012 Lake Placid Mixed team Gold 2013 St. Moritz Mixed team Bronze 2008 Altenberg Mixed team Bronze 2009 Lake Placid Two-man Bronze 2009 Lake Placid Mixed team Bronze 2011 Königssee Four-man Bronze 2013 St. Moritz Four-man World Cup Championships Gold 2006–2007 Combined Gold 2006–2007 Two-man Gold 2009–2010 Combined Gold 2009–2010 Four-man Gold 2013–2014 Combined Gold 2013–2014 Two-man Silver 2006–2007 Four-man Silver 2010–2011 Four-man Silver 2013–2014 Four-man Silver 2016–2017 Two-man Bronze 2007–2008 Combined Bronze 2010–2011 Combined Bronze 2016–2017 Combined Bronze 2016–2017 Four-man World Cup Single Events Gold 2006–07 Cesana Pariol USA 1 Four Man Gold 2006–07 Cesana Pariol USA 1 Two Man Gold 2006–07 Igls USA 1 Four Man Gold 2006–07 Cortina USA 1 Two Man Gold 2006–07 Cortina USA 1 Four Man Gold 2007–08 Park City USA 1 Four Man Gold 2007–08 Park City USA 1 Two Man Gold 2007–08 Calgary USA 1 Four Man Gold 2008–09 Park City USA 1 Four Man Gold 2008–09 Park City (make-up race) USA 1 Four Man Gold 2009–10 Lake Placid USA 1 Four Man Gold 2009–10 Winterberg USA 1 Four Man Gold 2009–10 Cesana USA 1 Four Man Gold 2010–11 Lake Placid USA 1 Four Man Gold 2010–11 Whistler USA 1 Four Man Gold 2012–13 Lake Placid USA 1 Two Man Gold 2012–13 Park City USA 1 Two Man Gold 2012–13 Whistler USA 1 Two Man Gold 2013–14 Calgary USA 1 Four Man Gold 2013–14 Calgary USA 1 Two Man Gold 2013–14 Park City USA 1 Four Man Gold 2013–14 Park City USA 1 Two Man Gold 2013–14 Lake Placid USA 1 Four Man Gold 2013–14 Lake Placid 1 USA 1 Two Man Gold 2013–14 Lake Placid 2 USA 1 Two Man Gold 2013–14 Igls USA 1 Two Man Gold 2013–14 Königssee USA 1 Four Man Gold 2015–16 Lake Placid USA 1 Two Man Gold 2016–17 Lake Placid USA 1 Two Man Silver 2006–07 Lake Placid USA 1 Two Man Silver 2006–07 Park City USA 1 Two Man Silver 2006–07 Calgary USA 1 Two Man Silver 2006–07 Königssee USA 1 Four Man Silver 2006–07 Winterberg USA 1 Four Man Silver 2007–08 Calgary USA 1 Two Man Silver 2007–08 Konigssee USA 1 Four Man Silver 2007–08 Lake Placid USA 1 Four Man Silver 2008–09 Altenberg USA 1 Two Man Silver 2008–09 Vancouver USA 1 Four Man Silver 2008–09 Igls USA 1 Four Man Silver 2009–10 Lake Placid USA 1 Two Man Silver 2009–10 Königssee USA 1 Team Event Silver 2009–10 Königssee USA 1 Four Man Silver 2009–10 Altenberg USA 1 Four Man Silver 2011–12 La Plagne USA 1 Two Man Silver 2011–12 Igls USA 1 Four Man Silver 2012–13 Park City USA 1 Four Man Silver 2012–13 Lake Placid USA 1 Four Man Silver 2013–14 Igls USA 1 Four Man Silver 2015–16 St. Moritz USA 1 Two Man Silver 2016–17 Lake Placid USA 1 Four Man Silver 2016–17 Konigssee USA 1 Two Man Bronze 2007–08 Lake Placid USA 1 Two Man Bronze 2008–09 Igls USA 1 Two Man Bronze 2008–09 Winterberg USA 1 Four Man Bronze 2009–10 Cesana USA 1 Two Man Bronze 2010–11 Igls USA 1 Four Man Bronze 2011–12 Igls USA 1 Two Man Bronze 2012–13 La Plagne USA 1 Two Man Bronze 2016–17 St. Moritz USA 1 Two Man Bronze 2016–17 Innsbruck USA 1 Four Man

Steven Paul Holcomb (born April 14, 1980 – died May 6, 2017) was an amazing American bobsledder. He competed in the sport from 1998 until he passed away in 2017. At the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, he won a gold medal for the United States in the four-man bobsled race. This was the first time the U.S. had won gold in that event since 1948! At the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, he earned silver medals in both the four-man and two-man bobsled events.

Steven Holcomb's Early Life and Bobsled Start

Steven Holcomb learned to ski when he was only two years old. He grew up in Park City, Utah, where his mom made sure he skied often. He started ski racing at age six for the Park City Ski Team and continued for 12 years.

Besides skiing, Steven was a talented athlete in many local sports. He played soccer, football, basketball, and baseball. He also ran track. In 1998, he tried out for the USA bobsled team. He did well enough to be invited to the National Team Camp.

Even though he finished eighth, which qualified him, he wasn't chosen for the team. This was because he was still young and not very big.

Joining the World Cup Team

After doing well at the National Team Trials in October 1998, Steven decided to go to the University of Utah. Soon after, a bobsled team member got hurt. On November 3, 1998, Steven was asked to join the World Cup team.

He went to Calgary, Alberta, for his first World Cup race. He pushed for driver Brian Shimer. Steven then had a great career as a pusher for other drivers like Jim Herberich and Todd Hays.

Before the 2002 Winter Olympics, Steven was replaced on Brian Shimer's team. He then helped test the bobsled course at the Utah Olympic Park during the 2002 Olympics.

Rising in the Ranks and Overcoming Challenges

Starting in the 2004–2005 season, Steven became one of the top American bobsled drivers. He left the military in June 2006 to focus completely on bobsledding. This helped him immediately in the 2006–07 Bobsleigh World Cup season.

Steven, with his team members, won the two-man World Cup Championship. He also finished second in the four-man competition. This made him the overall Combined Champion for that season.

As Steven became more successful, an eye condition called Keratoconus started to affect him. It made it hard for him to see clearly and compete. In 2007, he had a special eye treatment called corneal collagen cross-linking (C3-R). In 2008, he received special lenses that helped his vision.

After these treatments, Steven led his teams to win many medals. He earned three gold, three silver, and one bronze medal during the 2007–08 Bobsleigh World Cup season. After Steven won gold at the 2010 Winter Olympics, the eye procedure was even renamed "Holcomb C3-R" in his honor!

Steven Holcomb's Bobsled Career Highlights

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.

Steven Holcomb and Steve Langton, on 2014 Sochi Olympics podium with two-man bobsleigh bronze medals—later upgraded to silver.

Throughout his career, Steven Holcomb was an amazing bobsled pilot. He led his two-man sled, "Night Hawk," and his four-man sled, "Night Train," to many victories. He won 12 gold, 6 silver, and 9 bronze medals in major competitions. These included the Winter Olympics, IBSF World Championships, and IBSF Bobsleigh World Cup events.

He also won 29 gold, 23 silver, and 9 bronze medals in individual World Cup races. Steven Holcomb is the most successful American bobsled athlete ever. This is true even after the 2021–22 sliding season!

His achievements include the first U.S. Four-man Olympic Championship in 62 years. He also won the first U.S. Four-man World Championship in 50 years.

Olympic Games Success

On January 17, 2010, it was announced that Steven Holcomb would compete in both the two-man and four-man events at the 2010 Winter Olympics. On February 17, Steven led the four-man U.S. bobsled team to a gold medal. This ended a 62-year wait for a gold medal in this event for the United States.

Steven also qualified for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. He competed in both the two-man and four-man bobsled races. On February 16, Steven and his brakeman, Steve Langton, won the bronze medal in the two-man competition. This ended another 62-year medal drought for the U.S. in the two-man event.

These medals were later changed to silver medals on March 27, 2019. This happened because the International Olympic Committee (IOC) took away the gold medals from a Russian pilot due to doping. This means Steven Holcomb is now a two-time silver medalist, in addition to his 2010 four-man gold.

Holcomb receiving one of his three crystal trophies from his podium finishes in all three final standings (two-man, four-man, overall Combined) of the 2016–17 Bobsleigh World Cup season. (19 March 2017)

World Championships and World Cup Titles

At the IBSF World Championships, Steven Holcomb won four medals. He earned a gold medal in the 2009 Four-man event. He also won three bronze medals in the 2008 Mixed team, 2009 Two-man, and 2009 Mixed team events.

Steven's success in the IBSF Bobsleigh World Cup tournaments led to many season titles. In the 2006–07 Bobsleigh World Cup, he won the overall Two-man and Combined World Cup titles. The Combined title includes results from both two-man and four-man races. His second place in the 2006–07 Four-man standings helped him win the Combined title.

The 2006–07 result also made him the first American man to win the Two-man World Cup title. He continued his strong performance in the 2009–10 Bobsleigh World Cup and 2013–14 Bobsleigh World Cup seasons. During these seasons, Steven won the 2009–10 Combined (his second), 2009–10 Four-man (his first), 2013–14 Combined (his third), and 2013–14 Two-man (his second) World Cup season titles.

After his great success in 2013–14, Steven's results dipped for a couple of seasons. However, he made a strong comeback in the 2016–17 Bobsleigh World Cup season. This season ended just seven weeks before he passed away. In that final season, Steven piloted his sleds to second place in the 2016–17 Two-man standings. He also earned third place in the 2016–17 Four-man and 2016–17 Overall Combined World Cup standings.

Steven Holcomb's Military Service

Steven Holcomb served as a soldier in the Utah Army National Guard for seven years. He was part of the 1457th Engineering Battalion as a combat engineer. He also participated in the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program (WCAP) for seven years. This program allows talented athletes to train and compete while serving in the military.

In July 2006, he received an Honorable Discharge from the Army. During his time in the National Guard, he earned several awards. These included the Army Achievement Medal and the Army Commendation Medal.

Education and Boy Scouts

Steven Holcomb attended The Winter Sports School in Park City. He graduated from this school in 1997.

As a young person, Steven was a member of the Boy Scouts of America. He achieved the highest rank in scouting, becoming an Eagle Scout.

Steven Holcomb's Passing

Steven Holcomb was found deceased in his room at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid, New York, on May 6, 2017. He was 37 years old.

His close friend and fellow U.S. Olympic athlete, Katie Uhlaender, found him. Steven Holcomb and Katie Uhlaender were featured in a documentary called The Weight of Gold (2020). This HBO Sports Documentary talks about the challenges Olympic athletes sometimes face.

See also

In Spanish: Steven Holcomb para niños

Images for kids

• 

  Holcomb at the 2014 Winter Olympics (note: the bronze in image was later upgraded to silver)