Thursday, February 21, 2002
Cindy one away this time
'Pegger skates to 4th place
By GREG Di CRESCE -- Winnipeg Sun
Cindy Klassen skated to the side of the oval after her fourth place finish in the 1,500 metre long track event.
"Sorry I couldn't win a medal for you," the 22-year-old Winnipegger shouted to her family in the Utah Olympic Oval stands.
Klassen's mother Helga said she didn't get to say much to her daughter after the race, but she hoped Cindy wasn't beating herself up over missing the podium yesterday.
"We're very proud of what she accomplished," Helga said. "(Veteran Canadian speed skater) Susan Auch told us earlier how impressed she was that Cindy had gotten a medal in her first race and, you know, we are no less impressed with what she's done."
Klassen captured a bronze in the 3,000m on Feb. 10. It was her first Olympic race and it was Canada's first medal of the 2002 Games.
Yesterday, Klassen came to the line with America's Jennifer Rodriguez in the final pairing of the 1,500m.
"I could see I was getting a little bit closer but she was too far ahead," said Klassen to a Sun Media reporter after the race. "When I saw the lap times I was putting up I didn't think I would come that close to getting a medal. So, after the race I was actually surprised I got fourth. I was pretty happy."
Anni Friesinger of Germany was in first with a world record time of 1:54.02 seconds, while fellow German Sabine Voelker sat in second with 1:54.97. Rodriguez bronze time was 1:55.32, while Klassen finished in 1:55.59
Canada's other skaters, Ottawa's Kristina Groves was 20th and East York, Ont., native Cindy Overland was 25th.
Klassen's best 1,500m -- an event she's ranked No. 2 in based on World Cup points -- is 1:55.08, a Canadian record.
"She had skated personal bests in both the 3,000m and 1,000m already, so when I saw her come to the line then I thought she had a good shot at a bronze," Helga said yesterday evening as she headed with her husband and two daughters to B.C. to ski.
'ALL VERY NERVE-RACKING'
"I know as I watched her skate and just fall behind it was all very nerve-racking. I guess she didn't have the energy (yesterday), but that's just the way it goes sometimes."
Helga said they managed to hang a sign of support in the Olympic oval from Cindy's high school, Mennonite Brethren Collegiate, prior the race.
"I've got so much support from them. I got an e-mail today from all of them and they sent me some little quotes and notes of encouragement which really helped. I hope when I get back to Winnipeg I can go and maybe talk to them and meet them. That would be really neat."
And a few days before, the family handed Cindy a bundle of letters, including a stack of postcards from Grade 2 students at Donwood Elementary School.
Klassen's final race of the Salt Lake Games is the 5,000m on Saturday.
OLY SPIRIT: For winter and summer Olympian Clara Hughes the spirit of the Games can't be tainted by corrupt judges, officious bureaucrats, doping or rampant commercialism.
"It's beyond all that. It's in what happens in the heart and soul of the athletes. It's the hope and happiness they find in their job," Winnipeg cyclist/speed skater Hughes said as she prepared for the 5,000 metre long track event on Saturday.
"I don't think the spirit can be killed. For example, when you see things like the Sale-Pelletier situation, the athletes rose above the judging and the results to maintain their dignity. They didn't let their spirit get dragged down or their hope ... I think the Olympic spirit can be seen as a metaphor for life."
Hughes, 29, has competed in two Summer Games as cyclist, winning double bronze in Atlanta in 1996. This is her first Winter Olympics.
SPEED: Skeleton, bobsled, luge, men's downhill -- ever wonder which ride is the fastest? Well, no need to leave you in suspense any longer -- top speeds in the luge hit a spine-tingling 153 km-h. Men's downhill runs a close second at 150 km-h, followed by bobsled 148 km-h, and skeleton 136 km-h. Speed skaters hit speeds of 58.3 km-h in long track and as high as 45 km-h in short track.
-- With files from Sun Media
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2002 Games Long Track Speed Skating Coverage
