Stephen Holland
Encyclopedia
Stephen Roy Holland OAM
(born 31 May 1958) is an Australia
n former freestyle
swimmer of the 1970s who won a bronze medal in the 1500 m freestyle at the 1976 Summer Olympics
in Montreal
. In a brief and spectacular career, he broke 12 world records and was known as the Super Fish after his coach Laurie Lawrence
likened his two-beat kick to the tail of a fish.
Holland made his first headlines as a 15 year old, when he broke the 1500 m freestyle world record at the Australian Championships. In the process, his 800 m split also broke the 800 m freestyle world record. This qualified him to make his international debut at the 1973 World Aquatics Championships
in Belgrade
, Yugoslavia
, where he again broke both world records en route to the 1500 m freestyle gold medal, setting a time of 15 m 31.85s. He was awarded the ABC
Sportsman of the Year award.
In 1974, Holland won a gold medal in the 1500 m freestyle at the Christchurch Commonwealth Games, leaving the silver medallist from New Zealand
, Mark Treffers
more than 25 seconds in arrears. Although the time was not a world record, his 800 m split of 8 m 15.88s bettered his previous 800 m record.
On arrival in Montreal
for the 1976 Summer Olympics
, Holland had set 12 world records, and was expected by the Australian public to win. However, he departed from his usual strategy of fast-starting, attacking swimming and decided to swim conservatively and outstay his main rivals, the United States
duo of Bobby Hackett
and Brian Goodell
. Holland made his move at the 800 m mark, but then found that he was fading in the final 200 m, when Goodell and Hackett overtook him. Although Holland had bettered his previous world record, Goodell surpassed it to take the gold.
Holland later swam the 400 m, finishing fifth behind Goodell, who again set a world record. After the Games, weighed down by the burden of public disappointment, Holland decided at the age of 18 that he was "washed up" and decided to retire from competitive swimming.
On 10 June 1985, Holland was awarded the Order of Australia
Medal for services to sport of swimming. On 23 June 2000, Holland was awarded the Australian Sports Medal
.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(born 31 May 1958) is an Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n former freestyle
Freestyle swimming
Freestyle is an unregulated swimming style used in swimming competitions according to the rules of FINA. The front crawl stroke is almost universally used during a freestyle race, as this style is generally the fastest...
swimmer of the 1970s who won a bronze medal in the 1500 m freestyle at the 1976 Summer Olympics
1976 Summer Olympics
The 1976 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1976. Montreal was awarded the rights to the 1976 Games on May 12, 1970, at the 69th IOC Session in Amsterdam, over the bids of Moscow and...
in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
. In a brief and spectacular career, he broke 12 world records and was known as the Super Fish after his coach Laurie Lawrence
Laurie Lawrence
Laurie Joseph Lawrence , is an Australian swimming coach. He was also an Australia national rugby union team member in 1964.-Early life:...
likened his two-beat kick to the tail of a fish.
Holland made his first headlines as a 15 year old, when he broke the 1500 m freestyle world record at the Australian Championships. In the process, his 800 m split also broke the 800 m freestyle world record. This qualified him to make his international debut at the 1973 World Aquatics Championships
1973 World Aquatics Championships
The first FINA World Championships in Aquatics were held in the Tašmajdan Sports Centre in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, from August 31 to September 9, 1973.-Medal table:-Diving:MenWomen-Swimming:MenWomen- Synchronised swimming :Women...
in Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
, Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
, where he again broke both world records en route to the 1500 m freestyle gold medal, setting a time of 15 m 31.85s. He was awarded the ABC
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
Sportsman of the Year award.
In 1974, Holland won a gold medal in the 1500 m freestyle at the Christchurch Commonwealth Games, leaving the silver medallist from New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, Mark Treffers
Mark Treffers
Mark Ferdinand Treffers is a former swimming representative from New Zealand who specialised in the freestyle....
more than 25 seconds in arrears. Although the time was not a world record, his 800 m split of 8 m 15.88s bettered his previous 800 m record.
On arrival in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
for the 1976 Summer Olympics
1976 Summer Olympics
The 1976 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1976. Montreal was awarded the rights to the 1976 Games on May 12, 1970, at the 69th IOC Session in Amsterdam, over the bids of Moscow and...
, Holland had set 12 world records, and was expected by the Australian public to win. However, he departed from his usual strategy of fast-starting, attacking swimming and decided to swim conservatively and outstay his main rivals, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
duo of Bobby Hackett
Bobby Hackett (swimmer)
Robert William "Bobby" Hackett, Jr. is a former American swimmer. He represented the United States at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, where he won a silver medal in the 1500-meter freestyle, finishing behind compatriot Brian Goodell.He was coached under Coach Joe Bernal...
and Brian Goodell
Brian Goodell
Brian Stuart Goodell is an Olympic champion and former World Record holding freestyle swimmer from the United States. At the 1976 Olympic Games, he won gold medals in 400m and 1500m Frees. He also won golds in both those events at the 1979 Pan American Games in San Juan, Puerto Rico...
. Holland made his move at the 800 m mark, but then found that he was fading in the final 200 m, when Goodell and Hackett overtook him. Although Holland had bettered his previous world record, Goodell surpassed it to take the gold.
Holland later swam the 400 m, finishing fifth behind Goodell, who again set a world record. After the Games, weighed down by the burden of public disappointment, Holland decided at the age of 18 that he was "washed up" and decided to retire from competitive swimming.
On 10 June 1985, Holland was awarded the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
Medal for services to sport of swimming. On 23 June 2000, Holland was awarded the Australian Sports Medal
Australian Sports Medal
The Australian Sports Medal was an award given during 2000 to recognise achievements in Australian sport.Recipients of the award included competitors, coaches, sports scientists, office holders, and people who maintained sporting facilities and services. Over 18,000 Medals were...
.