Airman Earns Male Athlete Of The Year Title
(January 13, 2010) |
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Capt. Ian Holt, a missile crewmember with the 319th Missile Squadron at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo., races for the United States cycling team at an international competition in Clonmel, Ireland, during the summer of 2009. Captain Holt trained and lived in Europe for one year while training for the event. (U.S. Air Force photo) |
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F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. (1/8/2010 -
AFNS) -- Becoming the Air Force Male Athlete of
the Year is no easy feat. It takes a lot of
determination and dedication to achieve this
status.
This year's Air Force male athlete of the year
is Capt. Ian Holt, a squadron command post
missile combat crew commander for the 319th
Missile Squadron.
Captain Holt said it was great to have his
dedication and sacrifices recognized.
"Many times I won't be satisfied with awards
because I always see the next step higher, but
being selected as the (male) athlete of the year
is the top step of the podium," Captain Holt
said.
He added that he has been active in sports most
of his life. He said he started playing soccer
when he was 5 or 6. |
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He grew up watching his sister compete as a cycling track
sprinter, he said. It wasn't until he was a freshman at the
Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo., that he started
cycling competitively.
"It takes a real commitment to be truly dedicated to
cycling," Captain Holt said.
Things such as dieting, mental strain, life style changes
and even some financial sacrifices are made along the way to
get where he wants to be, he added.
Cycling is a great mental and physical sport that he enjoys
doing, Captain Holt said. He added, there are many hardships
that go into any sport, but when he's training up to 30
hours a week for an event, it takes something more than just
energy out of his body.
"With the ops tempo as high as it is, finding time to train
can be difficult," Captain Holt said.
Capt. Rodney Ellison, 90th Missile Wing, said he has worked
out with Captain Holt on occasion.
"His work-outs are intense," Captain Ellison said. "He does
a routine tailored to those
needing stamina, endurance and explosiveness."
"Everyone expects to hear that Lance Armstrong is my
motivational model for cycling, and starting out, that was
true," Captain Holt said. He said he looks mainly at himself
now for motivation, and once he loses that self drive, he'll
know it's time to move on.
Many cyclists would say that winning the Tour de France is
the pinnacle, however, not so for him, Captain Holt said.
For him, representing the United States in the Olympics is
the ultimate dream in his cycling career.
"As long as I can keep improving and keep the internal fire
to compete, I will try to reach the highest level," he said.
Participating in the world class athlete program for a year
leading up to the 2008 Olympics was priceless, he said.
Living and training in Europe, which is the grand stage for
cycling, was incredible, he added.
"International cycling races are fun," Captain Holt said.
"Racing with the U.S. armed forces team at the military
world championships is always extra special because it's not
about money or contracts," he added. "It's about the pride
of representing the United States and trying to be the best
in the world."
"Getting into competitive sports is easy," Captain Holt
said. "Just jump into one. It's not necessary to be at the
top of a sport to have fun either. Just remember that it
takes determination and dedication to get to athlete of the
year." |
By USAF SSgt. Mike Tryon
90th Missile Wing Public Affairs
Copyright 2010 |
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Reprinted from
Air Force News Service
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