Larry Holliday

{{short description|American figure skater}}

{{Infobox figure skater

|name= Larry Holliday

File:Larry Nationals Bensenville.jpg

|country= {{USA}}

|birth_date= {{Birth date and age|1964|7|5}}

|residence= Chicago

|height= 5ft 11in (1.80m)

|coach= Ray Belmonte

|choreographer= Ray Belmonte

|formercoach= Gordie McKellen, Pieter Kollen

|skating club= Albuquerque FSC

}}

File:Waiting for the marks.jpg

File:2014 US Adult Nationals.jpg

File:2014 U.S. Adult Nationals - Hyannis, Massachusetts.jpg

File:Larry Holliday at the 2004 U.S. Adult Championships Lake Placid, New York.jpg

File:Grand Rapids.jpg

File:2002 Ann Arbor.jpg

Larry Holliday (born July 5, 1964 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American figure skater. He is the six time U.S. Adult Championship Masters Men Champion,Ice Network news. http://web.icenetwork.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120414&content_id=28690434&vkey=ice_news&tcid=fb_share and he was a member of Team USA in 1990.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/figure-skating|title=NBC Sports Gold Figure Skating Pass|date=September 10, 2018|website=NBC Sports}}

Adult skating career

At the 2002 U.S. Adult National Figure Skating Championships in Ann Arbor, Michigan, he became the first skater to successfully land a triple jump in the Championship Masters event.US Figure Skating. {{cite web |url=http://www.usfsa.org/Magazine.asp?Issue=28360 |title=Welcome to U.S. Figure Skating |accessdate=2013-01-03 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224083747/http://www.usfsa.org/Magazine.asp?Issue=28360 |archivedate=2013-12-24 }}{{Cite web |title=Check out These Famous Men in Olympic Figure Skating |url=https://www.liveabout.com/famous-men-olympic-figure-skaters-1282822 |access-date=2024-09-12 |website=LiveAbout |language=en}} In doing so, he won his first National title,U.S. Figure Skating {{cite web |url=http://www.usfigureskating.org/event_details.asp?id=18155 |title=Welcome to U.S. Figure Skating |accessdate=2009-09-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090927030601/http://www.usfigureskating.org/event_details.asp?id=18155 |archivedate=2009-09-27 }} and "earned a place in figure skating history".Skating magazine. "A Holliday to Remember". Official publication of U.S. Figure Skating, January 2005, p.46

In February 2003 Holliday co-directed the second edition of Ebony On Ice at the Auditorium Theater in Chicago, Illinois. Nine time French Champion and five time European Ladies Champion Surya Bonaly was the special guest skater.Chicago Defender. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140513081826/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-323510731.html |date=2014-05-13 }}{{Cite web |date=2012-04-26 |title=History revealed at a skating rink - Chicago Tribune |url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2003-02-07/entertainment/0302070378_1_ebony-ticketmaster-special-benefit-performance |access-date=2024-09-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426175053/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2003-02-07/entertainment/0302070378_1_ebony-ticketmaster-special-benefit-performance |archive-date=2012-04-26 }} After the show ended, Holliday began intensive training for the 2003 Adult Championships where he won again. His program included two triple jumps.U.S. Figure Skating {{cite web |url=http://www.usfigureskating.org/event_details.asp?id=18265 |title=Welcome to U.S. Figure Skating |accessdate=2009-09-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090928070109/http://www.usfigureskating.org/event_details.asp?id=18265 |archivedate=2009-09-28 }}U.S. Figure Skating http://www.usfigureskating.org/event_related_details.asp?ri=/content/events/200203/adultnats/saturday/champmasters-men.htm {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201214139/http://www.usfigureskating.org/event_related_details.asp?ri=%2Fcontent%2Fevents%2F200203%2Fadultnats%2Fsaturday%2Fchampmasters-men.htm |date=2014-02-01 }}

At the 2004 U.S. Adult Championships in Lake Placid, New York, held at the Herb Brooks Arena, Holliday won his third consecutive title. Skating under the 6.0 system, Holliday received a high technical mark of 5.5 and a high artistic mark of 5.6. He included three triple jumps in his program.U.S. Figure Skating News {{cite web |url=http://www.usfigureskating.org/event_story.asp?id=24490 |title=Welcome to U.S. Figure Skating |accessdate=2013-01-06 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140423230837/http://www.usfigureskating.org/event_story.asp?id=24490 |archivedate=2014-04-23 }}U.S. Figure Skating {{cite web |url=http://www.usfigureskating.org/event_details.asp?id=19396 |title=Welcome to U.S. Figure Skating |accessdate=2009-09-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090628211522/http://www.usfigureskating.org/event_details.asp?id=19396 |archivedate=2009-06-28 }}

Holliday had to watch the 2005 U.S. Adult Championships from the stands with a brace on his right leg.Ice Network News {{cite web |url=http://www.usfigureskating.org/event_story.asp?id=29634 |title=Welcome to U.S. Figure Skating |accessdate=2013-01-06 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140321065004/http://www.usfigureskating.org/event_story.asp?id=29634 |archivedate=2014-03-21 }} One week before the Championships, Holliday broke his leg and was forced to undergo surgery to repair the patellar tendon, missing two years of competition.Ice Network news. http://web.icenetwork.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090425&content_id=64209&vkey=ice_news Returning to competition Holliday won the silver medal in 2007U.S. Figure Skating {{cite web |url=http://www.usfigureskating.org/event_details.asp?id=34946 |title=Welcome to U.S. Figure Skating |accessdate=2009-09-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091111160101/http://www.usfigureskating.org/event_details.asp?id=34946 |archivedate=2009-11-11 }} and the bronze medal in 2008Life Skate http://www.lifeskate.com/skate/2008/04/2008-us-adult-1.html at the U.S. Adult Championships. Finally at the 2009 U.S. Adult Championships in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Holliday regained the National title.Ice Network News http://web.icenetwork.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090425&content_id=64209&vkey=ice_newsIce Network http://www.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/58288/results.html At the 2010 U. S. Adult Championships in Bloomington, Minnesota Holliday successfully defended, and captured his fifth title with a score of 49.56. A mere 0.25 separated the top 3 medalists.Ice Network News http://web.icenetwork.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100417&content_id=9366960&vkey=ice_newsIce Network http://www.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/2010/65690/results.html

On April 14, 2012 at the 2012 U.S. Adult Championships, in Bensenville, Illinois, Holliday won his sixth national title. Skating to "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", Holliday had an emotional win and a score of 51.55.Ice Network http://www.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/2012/68273/results.html

The Championship junior-senior men's event at the 2013 U.S. Adult Figure Skating Championships in Scottsdale, Arizona, featured a triple jump for the first time in years, with Holliday landing a triple Salchow. Unfortunately mounting mistakes later in the program kept him from defending the title.Ice Network News http://web.icenetwork.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130413&content_id=44730656&vkey=ice_news

Skating to Casablanca, Holliday won the Open Master Senior Men gold medal at the 2014 U.S. Adult Figure Skating Championships with his highest point total to date 56.55.Ice Network results. http://www.usfigureskating.org/leaderboard/results/2014/2014_us_adult_fs_champs/results.html

In the Championship Junior-Senior Men event he won the pewter medal finishing in 4th place, only .11 points from the bronze. The event was held in Hyannis, Massachusetts.

Outskirts Press published "The Larry Holliday Story" in 2008.Norma Jean. "The Larry Holliday Story: Someone you should know". Outskirts Press, 2008, pages 1-212. {{ISBN|978-1-4327-4267-6}} http://outskirtspress.com/webpage.php?isbn=9781432717988

Holliday currently coaches at McFetridge Sports Center in Chicago, Illinois.{{Cite web|url=http://mcfetridgesportscenter.com/ice-rink-sports/icestaff/|title=Ice Staff | McFetridge Sports Center}}

Early skating career

Holliday began skating in December 1976 after seeing an outdoor ice rink (Lake Shore Park) from the 72nd floor of a friends apartment in the John Hancock Center.Sports Illustrated. "A One-Man Spectacular: Holliday on Ice". Lisa Twyman Bessone, February 11, 1991, page 14 https://www.si.com/vault/1991/02/11/123615/a-one-man-spectacular-holliday-on-ice-chicagos-larry-holliday-has-persevered-during-hard-times-to-become-skatings-unlikeliest-rising-star

In April 1977, Holliday began training at the Rainbo Ice Arena on Clark St. in Chicago. He attended classes there and met his first skating coach Jim Maier, who taught him all the basics of the sport, and gave him an excellent foundation to rise to the top.Norma Jean. "The Larry Holliday Story: Someone you should know". Outskirts Press, 2008, page 1. {{ISBN|978-1-4327-4267-6}} http://outskirtspress.com/webpage.php?isbn=9781432717988

Holliday made his first National appearance at the 1982 United States Figure Skating Championships held in Indianapolis, Indiana at the Market Square Arena. He competed in the Novice Men event and finished in 5th place, behind 12-year-old gold medalist Rudy Galindo.Norma Jean. "The Larry Holliday Story: Someone you should know". Outskirts Press, 2008, page 14. {{ISBN|978-1-4327-4267-6}} http://outskirtspress.com/webpage.php?isbn=9781432717988

In 1987, Holliday was invited to train in the Denver suburb of Littleton, Colorado with Norma Sahlin, the famed coach of World Champions Jill Trenary and Charlie Tickner.

During his stay, Alex English of the Denver Nuggets became his mentor/sponsor, and by 1990 he had a top 10 finish in the nation, which earned him a spot on the U.S. National Team (Team USA).

A very high jumper throughout his career, Holliday's jumps were measured at 37 inches high in 1990.Boys' Life. "High Rise Skater". Hal Higdon, January 1992, page 28 http://www.readabstracts.com/General-interest/Guide-to-the-Summer-Games-High-rise-skater.html

At the 1990 United States Figure Skating Championships, held at the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City, Utah, Holliday skated in the final National Championships where the Compulsory figures event was combined with the short and long programs. He finished in 12th place in the Compulsory figures event and 10th overall.Chicago Tribune. Compulsory Figures Skate Into History. Phil Hersh, February 9, 1990 [https://archive.today/20130119215739/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1990-02-09/sports/9001120091] His overall 10th-place finish at the Nationals qualified him for the 1990 U.S. Olympic Festival competition, held at the Met Center in Bloomington, Minnesota July 7–8, 1990.[https://archive.today/20130215180718/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1990-07-07/sports/9002270054_1_jobs-expenses-dreams Chicago Tribune. Glenn Minnis]

During the summer of 1990 a group of sponsors put forth a major effort to get Holliday to the 1992 Winter Olympics. There were dozens of articles on Holliday, countless radio spots, and at least four different television reports, including a segment on the Today show (Sportsman of the Week, narrated by Deborah Norville). Father George Clements and Alderman Danny K. Davis (29th Ward) championed Holliday's cause, even Chicago's Mayor Richard M. Daley met the skater and donated $250 to his training expenses.Chicago Tribune. Mike Royko October 26, 1990

https://www.chicagotribune.com/1990/10/26/figure-skater-going-for-the-gold-his-way/ The Park District agreed to let Holliday skate for free at the McFetridge Sports Complex, which had the only indoor skating rink in the city. Although the waived charges were only a couple of dollars, they made a difference to Holliday, and the Independence Bank of Chicago, a black-owned south-side institution, agreed to hold donations in a special "Larry Holliday Olympic Fund."Chicago Reader. "Soul on Ice" by Ben Joravsky Sept. 27, 1990 http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/soul-on-ice-who-decided-skating-is-not-for-blacks/Content?oid=876392

Holliday was invited to skate in the 1991 U.S. Olympic Festival held at The Forum (Inglewood) in July 1991. He finished in 7th place at that event.

By the summer of 1991 more sponsors came out in support of Holliday's cause. The business man Robert Crown from a wealthy Chicago family agreed to donate $20,000 toward Holliday's training expenses.USA Today. Sport section "Holliday on ice, a troubled talent" by Steve Woodward July 15, 1991 page 7C

From the generosity of the prominent businessman from Chicago, Holliday and his coach Les Hanson set out for the East Coast in the month of October. Since the U.S. Nationals were to be held in Orlando, Florida at the Amway Arena in January 1992, coach Hanson thought it would be wise to get better acquainted with the east coast judges and competitors through a series of exhibitions. The first stop was Clearwater, Florida, then progressed on to Providence, Rhode Island, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and ended in New York City. Holliday qualified for the National Championships that year and finished in 13th place.Norma Jean. "The Larry Holliday Story: Someone you should know". Outskirts Press, 2008, pages 148-149. {{ISBN|978-1-4327-4267-6}} http://outskirtspress.com/webpage.php?isbn=9781432717988

Holliday's 4th National appearance was at the 1993 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, held at the US Airways Center in Phoenix, Arizona.

Holliday's 5th and final National appearance was at the 1994 United States Figure Skating Championships, held at the Joe Louis Arena and as memorable as that event was (the attack on Nancy Kerrigan) for Holliday the competition was forgettable. He withdrew after skating the short program citing severe knee pain.Norma Jean. "The Larry Holliday Story: Someone you should know". Outskirts Press, 2008, pages 156. {{ISBN|978-1-4327-4267-6}} http://outskirtspress.com/webpage.php?isbn=9781432717988

Recognition

In November 2021 Skating Magazine named Larry one of 100 contributors that made a significant contribution to the sport, during the 100th anniversary of U.S. Figure Skating.Skating Magazine issue vol. 98 no. 9, pages 20-21.

Competitive highlights

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
style="background-color: #ffdead; " colspan=16 align=center | United States Adult National Championships
Event

! 2002

! 2003

! 2004

! 2005

! 2006

! 2007

! 2008

! 2009

! 2010

! 2011

! 2012

! 2013

! 2014

! 2015

! 2016

align=left | Masters Menbgcolor=gold | 1stbgcolor=gold | 1stbgcolor=gold | 1stDNCDNCbgcolor=silver | 2ndbgcolor=cc9966 | 3rdbgcolor=gold | 1stbgcolor=gold | 1stDNCbgcolor=gold | 1st5thbgcolor=d1c571 | 4th5thbgcolor=d1c571 | 4th
align=left | Open Masters Menbgcolor=gold | 1stbgcolor=silver | 2ndbgcolor=gold | 1st
style="background-color: #ffdead; " colspan=16 align=center | United States Adult Midwestern Championships
Event

! 2002

! 2003

! 2004

! 2005

! 2006

! 2007

! 2008

! 2009

! 2010

! 2011

! 2012

! 2013

! 2014

! 2015

! 2016

align=left | Masters Menbgcolor=gold | 1stbgcolor=gold | 1stbgcolor=silver | 2ndbgcolor=gold | 1stDNCbgcolor=gold | 1stbgcolor=gold | 1stbgcolor=gold | 1stbgcolor=silver | 2ndDNCbgcolor=cc9966 | 3rdbgcolor=cc9966 | 3rdbgcolor=cc9966 | 3rdbgcolor=d1c571 | 4thbgcolor=d1c571 | 4th
style="background-color: #ffdead; " colspan=16 align=center | ISU International Masters Men{{Cite web|url=https://www.lakeplacidskating.com/international-adult-competition|title=ISU Adult Competition|website=Lake Placid Skating}}
Event

! 2019

align=left | Lake Placidbgcolor=gold | 1st

Programs

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
Season

! Free skating

2014

|

2013

|

2012

|

2011

| Did not compete

2010
Ice Network news. http://web.icenetwork.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100417&content_id=9366960&vkey=ice_news

|

2009
Ice Network news. "Adult Championship Blog" http://web.icenetwork.com/events/detail.jsp?id=58288

|

2008
Life Skate. http://www.lifeskate.com/skate/2008/04/2008-us-adult-1.html

|

2007

|

2006

| Did not compete

2005

|

2004

|

2003
Skating magazine. "Championship Masters Men". Official publication of U.S. Figure Skating, June/July 2003, p.15

|

2002
Skating magazine. "Championship Masters Men". Official publication of U.S. Figure Skating, June/July 2002, p.21

|

References