Quick Facts
SagittariusBiography
Michael Harry Holland (born 9 December 1961) is an American former ski jumper. He competed in the 1984 Winter Olympics and the 1988 Winter Olympics, and 27 minutes holder of the world distance record in 1985 when Finnish jumper Matti Nykänen passed his mark with a jump 1 meter longer.
Biography
A native of Norwich, Vermont, Holland was a five time U.S. national champion. His world record jump of 186 meters in Planica, Slovenia was held for 27 minutes before Finnish jumper Matti Nykänen passed his mark with a jump of 187 meters. With his jump of 186 meters, Holland became the second man to jump over 600 feet (with Matti Nykänen's jump of 607 feet at Oberstdorf a year before).
Holland competed in the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo and the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Holland had five top ten world cup results including a 1st-place finish in Bischofshofen, Austria in 1989; three 2nd-place finishes in Harrachov, Thunder Bay and Planica; and 3rd place in Lahti.
World Cup
Standings
| Season | Overall | 4H |
|---|---|---|
| 1982/83 | 15 | 17 |
| 1983/84 | 22 | 92 |
| 1984/85 | 10 | 29 |
| 1985/86 | 29 | 34 |
| 1986/87 | 34 | 82 |
| 1987/88 | 30 | 65 |
| 1988/89 | 11 | 8 |
| 1989/90 | — | — |
| 1991/92 | 34 | — |
Wins
| No. | Season | Date | Location | Hill | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1988/89 | 6 January 1989 | Bischofshofen | Paul-Ausserleitner-Schanze K111 | LH |
Ski jumping world record
| Date | Hill | Location | Metres | Feet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 March 1985 | Velikanka bratov Gorišek K185 | Planica, Yugoslavia | 186 | 610 |
Family life
His younger brothers Joe Holland and Jim Holland were also U.S. national champions, Joe competed in the nordic combined and Jim competed in ski jumping. Both competed on the world cup circuit and in the Olympic Winter Games.