Clara Hughes
Birth Name:
Clara Hughes
Birth Place:
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Fast Facts
- After winning a gold and silver medal at the 2006 Torino Olympics, she donated $10,000 to the organization Right to Play
- Holds the Canadian record for the 10,000m event with a time of 14:19․73, which was also the world record for one year
- Is the fourth athlete to ever win medals at both the Winter and Summer Olympics and is the only one to win multiple medals at both
- Is the National Spokesperson for Bell Canada's Mental Health Initiative, helping to fight the stigma against mental illness through their "Let's Talk" campaign
- Was named an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2007
- Won the International Olympic Committee's Sport and the Community Award
- Has honorary doctorates from the University of Manitoba, the University of British Columbia, and the University of New Brunswick
- Quote: "(On retiring): "You've got to know when to stop․ It's not a good reason to do something just because you're good at it, and you can win․ To me, it's not․ It has to be at a deeper level than that․""
- Best known as a retired speed skater and cyclist and Olympic gold medalist
- Was chosen as Canada's flag bearer at the Opening Ceremonies of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics