Sport: Speed skating - 3000m and 5000m
Place of birth: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Residence: Sutton, Quebec

Five-time Olympic medalist Clara Hughes is the first Canadian and only the fourth athlete in the world to have won Olympic medals in both Winter and Summer Games.

The accomplished athlete is a two-time World Champion speed skater, a two-time World Champion cyclist, and an 18-time National Champion in cycling. Clara began as a speed skater but switched to cycling on the advice of a coach who recognized her podium potential in the latter sport. In 2000, her passion for speed skating returned and she began a successful five-year journey to become one of the top long-distance skaters in the world. Clara also holds a World Record in the grueling 10,000m long-track race.

Major Athletic Achievements

• Gold medalist in 5000m and silver medalist in the women's team pursuit competition as part of the Canadian team in the Olympic Winter Games in Turin 2006
• Gold medalist at the World Single Distance Championships 2004
• Gold medalist in the 3000m and 5000m events at the World Cup 2004. This was the first time Canada ever won gold in the 5000m at the Worlds.
• Gold medalist in the 3000m event (speed skating) at the World Cup 2003
• Gold medalist in the 5000m event (speed skating) at the World Championships
• With only 15 months experience, won bronze medal in speed skating (5000m) at the Olympic Winter Games 2002
• Gold and bronze medalist in cycling at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England 2002
• Placed 6th in the individual time trial (cycling) in the Olympic Games, Sydney 2000
• Double-bronze medalist (road race and individual time trial) at the Olympic Games in Atlanta 1996