Pat Holmes competed in the men’s K-1 1000 metres and in the K-2 500 metres (with Alan Carey) canoe sprint at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games, qualifying for the semi-final of both events.

Holmes held the British and Irish record for the K-1 500 metres and in June 1992 won the British K-1 500m and 1000m titles as well as sharing in the K-2 1000m and K-4 500m titles. A member of the Salmon Leap Canoe Club in Leixlip, Holmes was based at the Richmond Club in London.

Holmes went on to compete again at Barcelona 1992 where he competed in the K-1 500 and K-1 1000m.

His brother Conor Holmes also competed at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics in the K-2 events.