Clara Hughes, the only Canadian Olympian to have multiple medals in both a Summer and Winter Games, made sweet music with her swan song today, winning the bronze medal in the women’s 5000m speed skating.

Hughes, the maple leaf flag bearer during the Opening Ceremony, was cheered by a capacity crowd in a race that had a number of top ranked skaters vying for the gold.

Martina Sabilova from the Czech Republic stood atop the podium while 21-year-old Stephanie Beckert from Germany took silver, but not before the three competing Canadians, Hughes, Cindy Klassen and Kristina Groves took centre stage.  

Six-time-medallist Klassen was cheered by the crowd, performing her last event before retirement and ultimately placed tenth. Kristina Groves had a chance at a medal, sitting in third place throughout the competition until both Sabilova and Beckert bettered her time.

Hughes held on, being pushed down to the bronze position, the perfect end to a perfect career.
“Now I am officially retired,” she said post race, citing this race as one of the best of her life.

She also said that the bronze win today fulfilled a dream. “I lived my dream again today by earning a medal on home soil and I hope this medal goes from coast to coast in this wonderful country”.

Beckert, who won her second silver medal today, said that while her family were at home ecstatic in front of the TV, her good luck charm was in the stands, “My brother was in the stands with his fingers crossed and I could feel his energy,” she said.

But the golden girl of the day was current world record holder Martina Sablikova who won in 6 minutes 50.91 seconds.

Sablikova agreed that the atmosphere in the venue had been electric and thanked the crowd. “Some people were shouting ‘You can do it, you’ve got the strength’. I’d like to thank everyone in the Stadium. Thanks for your support.”

Flip Byrnes
AOC