31-year-old skater (who grew up w/JRA) headed to 2006 Olympic Games

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Former Rower Chasing Winter Olympic Dream

e Holzer headed to 2006 Torino Games

Jan. 4, 2006

http://gozags.collegesports.com/sports/w-crew/spec-rel/010406aaa.html

Former Gonzaga University women's rower e Holzer will be chasing the

Olympic Dream in mid-February as she was named to the U.S. Olympic Team that

is headed to the 2006 Winter Games in Torino, Italy. Holzer will compete in

3,000 meter speed skating competition as she was one of three Americans

named to the team for that event. The women's 3,000 meter championships is

one of the first medal events at the Olympics taking place on Sunday, Feb.

13, two days after the Opening Ceremonies.

Holzer earned a spot on the 2006 Olympic team based on her current World Cup

standing and by finishing second at the U.S. Long Track Championships on

Dec. 28. Holzer was second in the event to fellow Olympic teammate

Raney who set a new American record at 4:01.98. Margaret Crowley will be

third member of the Olympic team competing in the 3,000 meters. Holzer will

also have a shot to compete in the 5,000 meters should she finish among the

Top 16 in the 3,000 meter competition, those finishers advance to compete in

the 5,000 meters held on Saturday, Feb. 25. The United States has not won a

medal in distance speed skating since the 1980 Lake Placid Games in which

Beth Heiden won a bronze in the 3,000 meters.

Born in Calgary, Alberta, Holzer was raised in Idaho graduating from

Centennial High in Meridian in 1992. After one and half years at the

University of Idaho, Holzer transferred to Gonzaga and joined the Bulldogs

rowing team. She was named a team captain in 1997 and led the Bulldogs to

their first West Coast Conference championship. She earned All-West Coast

Conference and All-Pacific-10 Conference honors while being named the

Gonzaga Female Student-Athlete of the Year. Holzer continued her rowing

career after Gonzaga finishing second in the open women doubles at the 1998

U.S. Rowing National Championships and second in the open women's double and

open women's quad at the 1998 U.S. Rowing National Team Trials.

Holzer picked up speed skating in 1998 and finished 11th overall at the U.S.

Allrounds in 1999. She improved to sixth overall at the 2001 U.S. Allrounds

and was second at the 2002 Olympic Trials in 2002 but was left off the 2002

Salt Lake City Olympic Team. In late 2002 Holzer captured her first American

title winning the U.S. Long Track Championship in the 3000 and 5000 meter

events. In 2003 Holzer moved onto the World Stage with an 18th place finish

in the World Single Championship 3,000 meter race. She followed that up

placing 23rd at the World Allround Championships.

The 31-year-old skater has overcome her share of hardships to reach the

Olympic Stage. Growing up she suffered from juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

which she sites as having a strong influence on her life and a driving force

behind success on the water and the ice. " My experience with the disease

taught me to appreciate my physical abilities and to be thankful for

everything I can do, " Holzer has been quoted as saying.