Olympic speed skating legend, Cindy Klassen, announces retirement

Cindy Klassen, from Winnipeg, Man., smiles during a training session in Calgary, Alta., Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2011. (Jeff McIntosh / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

From humble beginnings in Winnipeg, Cindy Klassen became one of the most decorated Olympians in Canadian history.

Saturday family, friends, and media packed into a hotel conference room to listen as she announced her retirement from the sport of speed skating.

“I have wonderful memories,” said Klassen. “And while records fall and medals tarnish, the friendships I have made through the sport are what will last forever.”

The list of accomplishments in Klassen’s storybook career are too many to mention, but highlights include six Olympic medals, one of them gold.

Members of her close-knit family, who watched from the stands as she won five medals in Torino in 2006, were also on hand for her announcement.

"It's been a very exciting trip for all of us, our whole family and especially for her and we're very proud of her and we're proud to be here today,” said her mother, Helga Klassen.

A talented youth hockey player, Klassen didn’t take up speed skating until the age of 18.

"I just remember struggling, especially those first two practices, and just having kids fly past me on the ice and thinking what am I doing here?" Klassen recalled of the beginning of her speed skating odyssey.

Known for her dedicated training habits and fierce competitive nature, she overcame those first few shaky strides and quickly turned the heads of her coaches.

"Oh my goodness, we have something special here,” said her first coach, Lori Derraugh about Klassen quickly adapting to the sport. “And we just couldn't wait to see, when she moved to Calgary, where she would go."

Klassen’s career includes appearances at three different Olympic Games, those six medals, and the honour of being Canada’s flag bearer for the closing ceremonies in Torino.

Due to injuries, she hasn’t competed in nearly two years and now looks forward to life after athletics.

"I'd love to be able to give back somehow,” said Klassen. “I've just been provided so many opportunities with speed skating and people have given me so much. Our country has given me so much."

Incredibly humble, Klassen has never been one to boast, and that’s ok because her accomplishments speak for themselves.