Cindy Klassen
View photos of Cindy Klassen at DESGphoto
| Given name | Cindy |
| Surname | Klassen |
| Sex | Female |
| Born | 12 August 1979 in Winnipeg, Manitoba (CAN) |
Cindy Klassen, born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, started her career as a hockey player. At 16 she played defense on the junior national team. She tried to qualify for the 1998 Olympic team, but to her great disappointment she was not selected. In the fall of 1997 she first tried speed skating, and she made the junior national team in February 1999. She placed 9th in the World Junior Championships, winning the 1000 m. Two years after starting speed skating she made the national team. In the pre-Olympic season 2001, she placed 4th in the World Championships and she won a 1500 m bronze medal in the World Single Distance Championships. At the Olympic games in Salt Lake City 2002 she won a bronze medal on the 3000 m.
In 2003 she won the World Champinoships and placed 2nd in the World Sprint Championships. In the start of the 2003/04 season she fell during training and sliced her forearm. The cut measured 10 cm and she also damaged 12 tendons in her forearm. She lost most of the season, but she did a remarkable comeback and won 2 medals in the World Single Distance Championships in Seoul at the end of the season.
In 2005 Klassen placed 2nd in the World Championships and won two golds at the World Single Distance Championships. At the beginning of the 2005/06 season she lowered the 3000 m World Record once and the 1500 m World Record twice, proving to be in excellent shape for the Olympics. In Torino she beat her strongest competitor, reigning champion Anni Friesinger head to head, and became Olympic Champion on 1500 m, ahead of teammate Kristina Groves. She had already won 3 medals earlier in the Games.
During the Canadian Olympic Trials in December 2001 she lowered her 5000 m Personal Best by 17 seconds, becoming the third woman to break the 7 minutes barrier, and at the same time taking the lead on the women's Adelskalender. She increased this lead during the 2006 World Championships, setting personal bests in the 500 m, 3000 m (World Record) and 5000 m.
She participated at the 1994 Commonwealth Games in field lacrosse, a demonstration sport. She also competed at the 1999 Pan American Games in inline speed skating.
Klassen was previously coached by Wang Xiuli, former Chinese speed skater, and now by former World Record holder Neal Marshall.
#1 on the Adelskalender: 21 December 2001 –
Last updated on 23 March 2006 by Bjarte Hetland.International Championship Results
Team Results
| Result | Distance | Date | Tournament | Venue | |
| 1 | 6 laps team pursuit Women | 16 February 2003 | 7th World Cup 2002-2003 | Baselga di Pinè |
|
| 1 | 6 laps team pursuit Women | 14 November 2004 | 1st World Cup 2004-2005 | Hamar |
|
| 1 | 6 laps team pursuit Women | 20 November 2004 | 2nd World Cup 2004-2005 | Berlin |
| 2 | 6 laps team pursuit Women | 5 March 2005 | World Single Distance Championships 2005 | Inzell |
| 11 | 6 laps team pursuit Women | 13 November 2005 | 1st World Cup 2005-2006 | Calgary | |
|
| 2 | 6 laps team pursuit Women | 4 December 2005 | 4th World Cup 2005-2006 | Heerenveen |
|
| 2 | 6 laps team pursuit Women | 16 February 2006 | Olympic Winter Games 2006 | Torino |
World Cup Results
World Cup Standings
| Result | Distance | Season | |
| 39 | 1000 m Women | Essent World Cup 1999-2000 | |
| 17 | 1500 m Women | Essent World Cup 1999-2000 | |
| 19 | 3000 m / 5000 m Women | Essent World Cup 1999-2000 | |
| 28 | 1000 m Women | Essent World Cup 2000-2001 | |
| 11 | 1500 m Women | Essent World Cup 2000-2001 | |
| 12 | 3000 m / 5000 m Women | Essent World Cup 2000-2001 | |
| 20 | 1000 m Women | Essent World Cup 2001-2002 | |
| 3 | 1500 m Women | Essent World Cup 2001-2002 | |
| 5 | 3000 m / 5000 m Women | Essent World Cup 2001-2002 | |
| 38 | 1000 m Women | Essent World Cup 2002-2003 | |
| 1 | 1500 m Women | Essent World Cup 2002-2003 | |
| 3 | 3000 m / 5000 m Women | Essent World Cup 2002-2003 | |
| 22 | 1000 m Women | Essent World Cup 2003-2004 | |
| 12 | 1500 m Women | Essent World Cup 2003-2004 | |
| 27 | 1000 m Women | Essent World Cup 2005-2006 | |
| 2 | 1500 m Women | Essent World Cup 2005-2006 | |
| 1 | 3000 m / 5000 m Women | Essent World Cup 2005-2006 |
National Championship Results
| Result | Distance | Date | Tournament | Venue | |
|
| 2 | Allround Women | 19 December 1999 | Canadian Allround Championships Women 2000 | Calgary |
|
| 1 | Allround Women | 4 January 2001 | Canadian Allround Championships Women 2001 | Calgary |
|
| 1 | 3000 m Women | 17 December 2001 | Canadian Single Distance Championships 2002 | Calgary |
|
| 2 | 2 x 500 m Women | 18 December 2001 | Canadian Single Distance Championships 2002 | Calgary |
|
| 1 | 5000 m Women | 21 December 2001 | Canadian Single Distance Championships 2002 | Calgary |
|
| 1 | Sprint Women | 3 January 2003 | Canadian Sprint Championships Women 2003 | Calgary |
| SD | Allround Men | 5 January 2003 | Canadian Allround Championships Women 2003 | Calgary | |
| SD | Allround Women | 22 December 2004 | Canadian Allround Championships Women 2005 | Calgary | |
|
| 1 | Sprint Women | 29 December 2004 | Canadian Sprint Championships Women 2005 | Calgary |
World Records
| Distance | Time | Rink | Date |
| Small Allround Women | 155.576 | Calgary | 17 March 2001 |
| Allround Women | 159.723 | Salt Lake City-Kearns | 26 January 2003 |
| Allround Women | 159.605 | Salt Lake City-Kearns | 9 January 2005 |
| 1500 m Women | 1.53,87 | Salt Lake City-Kearns | 9 January 2005 |
| 1500 m Women | 1.53,77 | Calgary | 28 October 2005 |
| 3000 m Women | 3.55,75 | Calgary | 12 November 2005 |
| 1500 m Women | 1.51,79 | Salt Lake City-Kearns | 20 November 2005 |
| Allround Women | 157.177 | Calgary | 22 January 2006 |
| 3000 m Women | 3.53,34 | Calgary | 18 March 2006 |
| Allround Women | 154.580 | Calgary | 19 March 2006 |
| 1000 m Women | 1.13,46 | Calgary | 24 March 2006 |
| 1000 m Women | 1.13,11 | Calgary | 25 March 2006 |
| Sprint Women | 149.305 | Calgary | 26 March 2006 |
Team World Records
| Distance | Time | Rink | Date |
| 6 laps team pursuit Women | 3.05,49 | Hamar | 14 November 2004 |
| 6 laps team pursuit Women | 3.03,07 | Berlin | 20 November 2004 |