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| Clara
Hughes
Event: Speed
Skating and Cycling
Date of Birth: September 27, 1972
Height : 5’9”
Weight : 159 lbs
Hometown: Winnipeg
Residence: Calgary
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Athletic
Highlights:
- Bronze medalist
in the 5000-metre long-track speed skating at the 2002 Olympic
Winter Games.
- Double-bronze
medalist in cycling road race and individual road time trial
at the 1996 Olympic Summer Games.
- First Canadian,
and second woman, to win medals at both the Summer and Winter
Olympic Games.
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Background:
The Olympic dream for Clara Hughes began in 1988 when she caught
her first glimpse of the Olympic Winter Games on television.
Watching speed skaters glide around the Oval inspired her to
believe that one day she, too, could represent Canada in that
same sport. Little did she imagine that in pursuing her speed
skating dream, she would first compete in two Olympic Summer
Games’, in the sport of cycling.
Clara grew up playing ringette and hockey, and had skated long
before riding a bike. Seeing the speed skaters, the best in
the province at the time, fly around the hockey arena on short
track speed skates, motivated Clara even more. Clara began riding
the bike after being invited to a training camp and spent 10
years representing Canada in the sport of cycling. |
The 2000-01
season, her first back on ice, was full of unprecedented achievements.
Clara earned a spot on the national team after just seven weeks
of specific training. She went on to compete in World Cup events,
qualifying for her first Winter Olympics only 13 months after
returning to the sport. |
With her eyes
set on the 2006 Olympic Winter Games, the sky is the limit with
Clara's focus narrowed to one sport. Her passion and determination
have taken her so far already, yet in many ways she feels this
is only the beginning.
“When I
was young, I became involved with kids who smoked and got into
a lot of trouble. I was swayed in a destructive direction and
sport is the one thing that pulled me out off this path. Sport
had a profound, life-altering effect on me, and I would like
to share my journey with young people. Without the examples
of the Olympic athletes I saw as a youngster, my life would
be very different. Becoming an athlete gave me awareness, and
made me change the way in which I lived, my goals and values.” |
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| For
more information on the Sport For Life Program please contact:
Nicole Simon
Sport For Life Program Coordinator
(403) 247-5624
NSimon@coda.ca
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