5 Olympic Rings: 5 Olympic Medals

MB jmanitoba from Marquette , October 20, 2009

My name is Jennifer Friesen, a grade 12 student from Marquette Manitoba, a small town just outside of Winnipeg. Cindy Klassen and her five Olympic medals at the Turin Olympics is the greatest Canadian Olympic moment for her determination, and her belief in going for her dreams and ultimately the podium at the Olympic Winter Games.

5 Olympic Rings: 5 Olympic Medals

Walking into the Great Stadium, during the closing ceremonies on the February day back in 2006 was the highlight of the Olympics for the Canadian flag barrier. Cindy Klassen the Winnipeg born speed skater won 5 Olympic medals over the span of two weeks. She set the Canadian record by being the only Canadian Olympian to go up to the podium five separate times to collect five medals during a single Olympic games. Cindy Klassen and her five Olympic medals at the 2006 Winter Olympics held in Turin Italy deserve the recognition of being the Greatest Canadian Olympic moment in history thus far. Cindy was born on August 12, 1979 in Winnipeg Manitoba. She was given a pair of skates and a hockey stick and this started a hokey career for Cindy. Just like other kids growing up in “Winterpeg” hockey was just a pastime, and not a way to earn million every year like it is in the NHL. Over the following years, she played hockey as well as lacrosse. Cindy represented Canada at the world stage in 1994 at the Commonwealth Games as part of the women’s field lacrosse team. Two years later, she was part of the 1996 Junior Women’s National hockey Team. In 1998, after not being selected for the Nagano Winter Olympics Cindy dropped her dream of competing on Canada’s women’s hockey team and playing competitive hockey. After competing on various Canadian National teams over her young career she took up the sport of speed skating as a way to keep in shape and build stamina. During 1999, Cindy was winning races against many other skaters who were more experienced than her. In the same year she brought home a junior world championship title. During her first Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City in 2002 Cindy won bronze in the 3000 meters, and followed in forth place in both the 1,500 and the 5,000 meters and a thirteenth place finish in the 1,000 meters. Competition was tough leading up to as well as during the 2006 Olympics in Turn Italy. The first medal at the Turin Olympics for Cindy came after completing in third place during 3000 meters, earning a bronze medal for Canada. Four days later after coming in behind the Germans, Cindy along with her teammates: Kristina Groves, Clara Hughes, Christine Nesbitt, Shannon Rempel won the silver medal for the Pursuit. During the next race Cindy won her second silver of the games. During the 1500 meter race Cindy won her first Olympic gold medal, beating her teammate Kristina Groves, and Ireen Wust of the Netherlands. During the 5000 meters, the longest race Cindy competed in; she placed third behind Germany’s Claudia Pechstein and teammate Clara Hughes. Cindy Klassens fifth medal was a silver in the 1000 meters, earning her the title of being the Canadian with the most medals in a single sport at a single Olympics. Throughout the course of the Olympics I remember watching TV during the speed skating events and thinking: there goes Cindy Klassen our very own skater. As Cindy finished the 3000 meters race she ultimately captured the hearts of many Canadians from coast to coast. In 2006 Cindy was awarded the Lou Marsh Award as the Canadian Athlete of the Year. During the 2008 Cindy took a break to undergo knee surgery to repair her knees as they were getting worn from the stress of speed skating. Months away from the 2010 Olympics to be held right here in our home country Cindy is hard at work in order to be at the top of her game and be prepared to help Canada rise to the top of the Podium. During the 2006 Olympics IOC president Jacques Roggs said Cindy Klassen is the “woman of the game”. Cindy will be part of our Canadian athletes who will make our team the “team of the 2010 Winter Olympics.”