Kirstin HOLUM

Kirstin Holum was to the speed skating manor born, as the daughter of Dianne Holum, a three-time Olympic speed skating medalist for the United States. Dianne Holum later became a coach, notably coaching Eric Heiden, but she also trained her daughter so well that in 1997, when only 16-years-old, Kirstin Holum won the World Junior All-Around title, which would be the highlight of her speed skating career. Primarily a distance skater, Holum skated the 3,000 and 5,000 at Nagano, placing sixth and seventh, respectively.

Holum then attended college in Chicago where she studied art and wrote a thesis on art and the Olympics, but after college she sought a higher calling. She had first been inspired to a religious vocation when she visited the Fatima Shrine in Portugal at age 16. After college she joined the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal, a religious order whose mission is to work with the poor and homeless. Starting as a nun in New York, she later settled in Leeds, England, at St. Joseph’s Convent, where she is now known only as Sister Catherine.

Personal Bests: 500 – 41.85 (1998); 1000 – 1:21.84 (1997); 1500 – 2:01.87 (1998); 3000 – 4:12.24 (1998); 5000 – 7:14.20 (1998).