Clara Hughes

One of few athletes to medal in both the Summer and Winter Olympics, Clara Hughes has won acclaim as both a speed skater and a cyclist. Although her athletic career began with the former, her success came first in the latter, winning her first of eight Pan-American Games medals in cycling in 1991, as well as a silver medal in the time trial event in the 1995 World Cycling Championships and two bronze medals at the 1996 Summer Olympics. A gold medal in the sport came at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester in the time trial, along with a bronze in the 24 km points race. She competed in the women’s Tour de France four times.

Hughes has seen even more success in speed skating, beginning with a bronze medal in the 5000 m at the 2002 Winter Olympics. In World Championships from 2003 through 2009, she obtained a total of six medals: 1 gold, 4 silver and 1 bronze. At the 2006 Winter Olympics, she won silver in the team pursuit event and gold in the 5000 m, which inspired her to donate $10,000 to the charitable organization Right to Play. She holds the Canadian record for the 10,000 m event with 14:19.73, which was, for a year, also the world record. In 2007 she was made an officer of the Order of Canada and in 2010 she was Canada’s flagbearer in the opening ceremonies of the Vancouver Winter Olympics. During these Games, she captured another Olympic bronze medal in the 5000m.

Personal Bests: 500 – 41.19 (2007); 1000 – 1:18.74 (2007); 1500 – 1:57.46 (2006); 3000 – 3:59.06 (2006); 5000 – 6:53.04 (2008).