2008 U.S. Armed Forces Cycling Team

Air Force First Lieutenant Holly Borowski

DOB 18 August 1982
Current residence: Oakland, CA
Hometown: Las Cruces, NM
Cycling strengths: All-around
Current military job: Air Force World Class Athlete Program
Air Force Specialty: Global Hawk Maintenance Officer

Why did you join the military? My father graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1966, flew fighters in Vietnam, and was a test pilot in the Air Force, retiring as a Colonel.

Previous sports: I swam competitively for 14 years, barely making it onto the AF Academy team for my freshman and sophomore years. I finished my swimming "career" spectacularly burnt out and have not been able to coax myself back into the pool since.

How did you get started in cycling? After swimming I was looking for a new way to stay fit. My parents bought me a bike for Christmas and I started riding with some members of the AF Academy cycling team, who convinced me to pick up racing. I didn't have much immediate talent for it, but that made the sport intriguing to me, and I set out to improve as much as I could.

Most memorable experience in cycling: Soon after I graduated from college, I competed in the Tour de 'Toona, a notoriously arduous 7 day stage race in Altoona, PA. I had no idea what I was getting into, as my sole cycling experience until that point was collegiate racing. I was in way over my head, but did what I could to complete the seven days of hard, long racing. After a lot of physical and emotional ups and downs I made it to the criterium, thinking everyone must be tired and it wouldn't be that fast. I was so wrong--from the start I was pedaling squares and the rest of the field seemed to be flying as they quickly rode away from me. I was pulled out at one lap shy of halfway (to be placed in the race we had to finish as least half of the crit), but at that point I was so exhausted that I was just happy to get off my bike and head home!

Most memorable experience in the military: In 2005 I deployed for 5 months to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as an aircraft maintenance officer. I was a second lieutenant, fresh out of maintenance officer training, but was placed as Aircraft Maintenance Unit Officer in Charge of the Global Hawk Unmanned Aerial Vehicle unit. I had no idea how to lead a maintenance unit, and made a lot of mistakes, but luckily I was guided through the 5 months by some very experienced, talented, and understanding Noncommissioned Officers. By the way, I did bring my bike to the deployment and attempted to "train" in the 114 degree high humidity heat of the UAE. Ouch.

Top 2007 cycling results:
9th, Columbia Hills Road Race, Mt. Hood Stage Race, Hood River OR
11th, Carl Zach Crit, Superweek, Milwaukee, WI
7th, Evanston Crit, Superweek, Milwaukee, WI
11th, Criterium Nationals warmup race, Downer's Grove, IL
15th, Criterium Nationals, Downer's Grove, IL
2004 U.S. Military National Champion - Road Race