Olympic News Circle: Summer & Winter Olympics

TURIN, Italy — Winnipeg speedskater Clara Hughes won gold in the women’s 5,000 metres on Saturday and Cindy Klassen claimed bronze to become Canada’s most decorated Olympian.For Winnipeg’s Klassen, it’s her fifth medal of these Games and sixth of her career. For Hughes, it’s career medal No. 5.

Runner Philip Edwards and short-track speedskater Marc Gagnon held the previous Canadian record with five Olympic medals.

”It’s been an exciting Games and I couldn’t have done it without such an awesome coach and such great teammates,” Klassen told CBC. ”I’m truly so lucky to be training in Calgary and to be a Canadian.

”It’s just been awesome and I’ve had such a fun time here at the Games here that I’m going to have memories for a lifetime.”

Hughes held off three-time defending champion Claudia Pechstein of Germany to win in six minutes 59.07 seconds. Pechstein finished one second behind and took the silver. Source: canada.com

Clare Hughes captured Canada a 7th Gold medal today in Speed Skating Ladies 5000m event at Turino 2006 Winter Olympic Games. Cindy KLASSEN won a bronze medal in the same event. This will be her fifth medal in Turin Olympics.