First Lt. Sara Holman has been selected as the 2014 Air Force Athlete of the Year for her stellar efforts in the pool. The current United States Masters swimmer, who originally began her swimming career within the synchronized swimming realm, took fourth place in the 800m freestyle event at the most recent FINA World Masters Championships last year.
After four years as a student-athlete on the swimming squad at the University of South Dakota, Holman joined the Gator Swim Club’s Masters team while attending graduate school at the University of Florida. She then joined the Colorado Masters Swimming Association when she arrived at Schriever Air Force Base, where she set association records in the 800m freestyle and 200m backstroke events last year.
As for being recognized as the Air Force’s Athlete of the Year for 2014, Holman exclaimed, “I wasn’t expecting [to win the award], but it was awesome. It’s great; I never thought I would receive an Air Force-level award.” She added that it is hard some days to “get her swimming in”, but that it’s worth it to her to make an effort and get the training done. Holman says, “I swim for fun and if I do well, that’s great. But I would be swimming anyway and I’ll probably do it for the rest of my life just because I love it so much.”
Great job Sara.
As a fellow competitor of Sara and her twin sister, Mary, I can tell you this award can’t go to a more humble and genuine woman! I’ve missed seeing those ladies at meets but so happy to hear of her success and achievement in this new adventure in the military!