Cindy Klassen
* 12 August 1979 – Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
* 12 August 1979 – Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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 -
| Show: | All | World Ch. | Multi-Sport Events | Continental Ch. | World Cup | Other Ch. | National Ch. |
| Tournament | Held | Rink | 500 m | 1000 m | 1500 m | 3000 m | 5000 m | 10000 m | Samalog | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| World Junior Championships 1999 | 12–14 Feb | Geithus | 42,19 (3) | 1.23,57 (1) | 2.15,07 (21) | 4.46,20 (13) | — | — | 176.698 (9) | — |
| Canadian Allround Championships 2000 | 18–19 Dec | Calgary | 39,99 (3) | — | 2.00,61 (2) | 4.13,58 (2) | 7.23,44 (2) | — | 166.800 (2) | — |
| World Championship Qualifier North America and Oceania 2000 | 14–16 Jan | Calgary | 39,46 (2) | — | 2.00,47 (3) | 4.16,76 (5) | 7.16,26 (2) | — | 166.035 (2) | — |
| 7th World Cup 1999/2000 (Sprint Final) | 29–30 Jan | Calgary | 39,69 (9/B) | 1.17,99 (3/B) | 2.00,17 (5/B) | 4.13,63 (1/B) | — | — | — | — |
| World Allround Championships Women 2000 | 5–6 Feb | Milwaukee | 40,51 (10) | — | 2.03,24 (16) | 4.18,46 (13) | — | — | 124.666 (NC13) | — |
| 8th World Cup 1999/2000 | 12–13 Feb | Baselga di Pinè | — | — | 2.03,93 (7/A) | 4.23,60 (12/A) | — | — | — | — |
| 9th World Cup 1999/2000 (Allround Final) | 19–20 Feb | Heerenveen Thialf | — | — | 2.01,37 (14/A) | 4.16,33 (15/A) | — | — | — | — |
| World Single Distance Championships 2000 | 3–5 Mar | Nagano | 1.20,57 (21) 40,40 (22/r2) 40,17 (20/r1) |
1.18,85 (15) | 2.01,15 (12) | 4.13,91 (11) | — | — | — | — |
| 1st World Cup 2000/2001 | 18–19 Nov | Berlin Sportforum | — | — | 1.59,75 (8/A) | 4.17,49 (14/A) | — | — | — | — |
| 2nd World Cup 2000/2001 | 25–26 Nov | Heerenveen Thialf | — | — | 2.01,67 (16/A) | — | 7.40,76 (19/A) | — | — | — |
| Canadian Allround Championships 2001 | 2–4 Jan | Calgary | 39,80 (2) | — | 1.59,73 (3) | 4.11,27 (1) | 7.22,42 (5) | — | 165.830 (1) | — |
| World Championship Qualifier North America and Oceania 2001 | 12–14 Jan | Milwaukee | 40,03 (2) | — | 2.03,09 (2) | 4.22,49 (3) | 7.38,82 (4) | — | 170.690 (2) | — |
| World Sprint Championships 2001 | 20–21 Jan | Inzell | 40,55 (19) 40,15 (19) |
1.18,79 (11) 1.19,36 (4) |
— | — | — | — | 159.775 (11) | — |
| 6th World Cup 2000/2001 | 2–4 Feb | Heerenveen Thialf | — | 1.19,49 (2/B) | 1.58,72 (6/A) | 4.11,81 (6/A) | — | — | — | — |
| World Allround Championships Women 2001 | 10–11 Feb | Budapest | 40,49 (3) | — | 2.05,00 (3) | 4.23,38 (6) | 7.25,78 (3) | — | 170.630 (4) | — |
| 8th World Cup 2000/2001 (Final) | 2–4 Mar | Calgary | — | 1.15,86 (2/B) | 1.56,01 (5/A) | 4.05,39 (4/A) | — | — | — | — |
| World Single Distance Championships 2001 | 9–11 Mar | Salt Lake City-Kearns | — | 1.15,27 (7) | 1.55,08 (3) | 4.02,41 (4) | — | — | — | — |
| 1st World Cup 2001/2002 | 10–11 Nov | Berlin Sportforum | — | — | 1.59,05 (6/A) | 4.13,55 (5/A) | — | — | — | — |
| 2nd World Cup 2001/2002 | 17–18 Nov | Innsbruck | — | — | 2.01,00 (4/A) | 4.17,23 (4/A) | — | — | — | — |
| 3rd World Cup 2001/2002 | 23–25 Nov | Den Haag | — | — | 2.01,20 (2/A) | 4.14,17 (5/A) | 7.25,83 (8/A) | — | — | — |
| 5th World Cup 2001/2002 | 8–9 Dec | Calgary | — | 1.16,06 (9/A) | 1.55,21 (4/A) | — | — | — | — | — |
| Canadian Single Distance Championships 2002 | 17–21 Dec | Calgary | 38,86 (2/r1) 38,51 (2/r2) 1.17,37 (2) |
— | — | 4.03,26 (1) | 6.59,24 (1) | — | — | — |
| 6th World Cup 2001/2002 | 11–12 Jan | Heerenveen Thialf | — | 1.17,43 (5/A) | 2.00,66 (4/A) | 4.12,61 (3/A) | — | — | — | — |
| Olympic Winter Games 2002 | 8–24 Feb | Salt Lake City-Kearns | — | 1.15,08 (13) | 1.55,59 (4) | 3.58,97 (3) | 6.55,89 (4) | — | — | — |
| 8th World Cup 2001/2002 (Final) | 8–10 Mar | Inzell | - (NF/B) | — | 2.02,62 (3/A) | — | — | — | — | — |
| World Allround Championships Women 2002 | 15–17 Mar | Heerenveen Thialf | 39,16 (2) | — | 1.56,88 (2) | 4.11,20 (3) | 7.04,86 (2) | — | 162.472 (2) | — |
| 1st World Cup 2002/2003 | 9–10 Nov | Hamar Vikingskipet | — | — | 1.58,07 (1/A) | 4.10,12 (3/A) | — | — | — | — |
| 2nd World Cup 2002/2003 | 16–17 Nov | Erfurt | 39,08 (1) | 1.16,47 (1) | 1.58,47 (1) 1.58,47 (1/A) |
4.06,87 (3) 4.06,87 (3/A) |
— | — | 157.950 (1) | — |
| 3rd World Cup 2002/2003 | 23–24 Nov | Heerenveen Thialf | — | — | 1.57,72 (1/A) | — | 7.18,29 (11/A) | — | — | — |
| Canadian Sprint Championships 2003 | 2–3 Jan | Calgary | 38,77 (2) 38,59 (2) |
1.16,01 (1) 1.15,57 (1) |
— | — | — | — | 153.150 (1) | — |
| Canadian Allround Championships 2003 | 3–5 Jan | Calgary | 38,77 (2) | — | — | — | — | — | 38.770 (SD) | — |
| World Sprint Championships 2003 | 18–19 Jan | Calgary | 38,58 (10) 38,41 (11) |
1.15,16 (3) 1.14,71 (2) |
— | — | — | — | 151.925 (2) | — |
| World Championship Qualifier North America and Oceania 2003 | 25–26 Jan | Salt Lake City-Kearns | 38,84 (1) | — | 1.54,63 (1) | 4.02,37 (1) | 7.02,78 (2) | — | 159.723 (1) | — |
| World Allround Championships Women 2003 | 8–9 Feb | Göteborg Ruddalen | 40,16 (2) | — | 2.05,10 (3) | 4.21,28 (2) | 7.31,39 (3) | — | 170.545 (1) | — |
| 7th World Cup 2002/2003 | 15–16 Feb | Baselga di Pinè | — | — | 2.02,70 (2/A) | 4.16,83 (3/A) | — | — | — | 3.08,79 (1/team pursuit) |
| 9th World Cup 2002/2003 (Final) | 7–9 Mar | Heerenveen Thialf | — | 1.17,88 (1/B) | 1.57,70 (1/A) | 4.08,14 (2/A) | — | — | — | — |
| World Single Distance Championships 2003 | 14–16 Mar | Berlin Sportforum | — | 1.17,36 (3) | 2.01,20 (10) | 4.16,07 (11) | — | — | — | — |
| 8th World Cup 2003/2004 | 20–22 Feb | Inzell | — | - (NS/A) | 2.00,93 (7/A) | — | — | — | — | — |
| 9th World Cup 2003/2004 (Final) | 27–29 Feb | Heerenveen Thialf | — | 1.16,84 (2/A) | 1.57,83 (3/A) | — | — | — | — | — |
| World Single Distance Championships 2004 | 12–14 Mar | Seoul | — | 1.18,68 (3) | 2.01,21 (2) | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1st World Cup 2004/2005 | 13–14 Nov | Hamar Vikingskipet | — | — | 1.57,35 (2/A) | 4.07,28 (1/B) | — | — | — | 3.05,49 (1/team pursuit) |
| 2nd World Cup 2004/2005 | 20–21 Nov | Berlin Sportforum | — | — | 1.56,81 (1/A) | 4.08,15 (6/A) | — | — | — | 3.03,07 (1/team pursuit) |
| 3rd World Cup 2004/2005 | 27–28 Nov | Heerenveen Thialf | — | — | 1.56,60 (1/A) | — | 7.09,55 (9/A) | — | — | — |
| Canadian Allround Championships 2005 | 20–22 Dec | Calgary | 38,94 (1) | — | 1.55,06 (1) | — | 7.07,82 (1) | — | 120.075 (SD) | — |
| Canadian Sprint Championships 2005 | 27–29 Dec | Calgary | 39,01 (1) 38,70 (1) |
1.15,45 (1) 1.15,11 (1) |
— | — | — | — | 152.990 (1) | — |
| World Championship Qualifier North America and Oceania 2005 | 8–9 Jan | Salt Lake City-Kearns | 38,53 (1) | — | 1.53,87 (1) | 4.02,15 (1) | 7.07,61 (2) | — | 159.605 (1) | — |
| World Sprint Championships 2005 | 22–23 Jan | Salt Lake City-Kearns | 38,30 (11) 38,56 (17) |
1.14,43 (4) 1.14,47 (3) |
— | — | — | — | 151.310 (8) | — |
| 7th World Cup 2004/2005 | 29–30 Jan | Baselga di Pinè | — | — | 2.00,65 (3/A) | 4.17,38 (4/A) | — | — | — | — |
| World Allround Championships Women 2005 | 5–6 Feb | Moskva Krylatskoye | 39,10 (2) | — | 1.58,23 (3) | 4.08,19 (5) | 7.13,39 (8) | — | 163.214 (2) | — |
| 9th World Cup 2004/2005 (Final) | 18–20 Feb | Heerenveen Thialf | — | — | 1.56,02 (1/A) | 4.07,25 (2/A) | — | — | — | — |
| World Single Distance Championships 2005 | 3–6 Mar | Inzell | — | 1.18,75 (4) | 1.58,49 (1) | 4.10,37 (1) | — | — | — | 3.07,01 (2/team pursuit) |
| 1st World Cup 2005/2006 | 12–13 Nov | Calgary | — | — | 1.55,24 (4/A) | 3.55,75 (1/A) | — | — | — | 3.03,17 (11/team pursuit) |
| 2nd World Cup 2005/2006 | 18–20 Nov | Salt Lake City-Kearns | — | — | 1.51,79 (1/A) | 3.56,90 (1/A) | — | — | — | — |
| 4th World Cup 2005/2006 | 3–4 Dec | Heerenveen Thialf | — | — | 1.54,72 (2/A) | — | 6.57,98 (3/A) | — | — | 3.03,95 (2/team pursuit) |
| 5th World Cup 2005/2006 | 9–11 Dec | Torino | — | 1.16,54 (2/A) | 1.57,62 (2/A) | 4.05,70 (2/A) | — | — | — | — |
| World Championship Qualifier North America and Oceania 2006 | 21–22 Jan | Calgary | 38,37 (1) | — | 1.52,71 (1) | 3.57,96 (1) | 6.55,77 (1) | — | 157.177 (1) | — |
| Olympic Winter Games 2006 | 10–26 Feb | Torino | — | 1.16,09 (2) | 1.55,27 (1) | 4.04,37 (3) | 7.00,57 (3) | — | — | 3.01,24 (1-1/team pursuit/qf) 3.02,13 (1-1/team pursuit/sf) (2/team pursuit) |
| 8th World Cup 2005/2006 (Final) | 3–5 Mar | Heerenveen Thialf | — | — | 1.55,76 (3) | 4.02,79 (1) | — | — | — | — |
| World Allround Championships Women 2006 | 18–19 Mar | Calgary | 37,51 (1) | — | 1.51,85 (1) | 3.53,34 (1) | 6.48,97 (1) | — | 154.580 (1) | — |
| World Sprint Championships 2007 | 20–21 Jan | Hamar Vikingskipet | 39,08 (16) 38,76 (8) |
1.15,57 (3) 1.15,49 (3) |
— | — | — | — | 153.370 (3) | — |
| 1st World Cup 2007/2008 | 9–11 Nov | Salt Lake City-Kearns | 39,20 (27/A) | 1.15,78 (11/A) 1.14,29 (5/B) |
1.54,91 (4/A) | 3.59,37 (2/A) | — | — | — | — |
| 2nd World Cup 2007/2008 | 16–18 Nov | Calgary | — | 1.14,22 (4/A) | 1.55,13 (10/A) | 4.04,27 (11/A) | — | — | — | — |
| 3rd World Cup 2007/2008 | 1–2 Dec | Kolomna Meteor | — | — | - (DQ/A) | — | 7.05,03 (6/A) | — | — | — |
| 4th World Cup 2007/2008 | 7–9 Dec | Heerenveen Thialf | 39,73 (8/B) | 1.16,89 (8/A) | 1.58,36 (7/A) | 4.10,53 (13/A) | — | — | — | — |
| 5th World Cup 2007/2008 | 15–16 Dec | Erfurt | 39,44 (1/B) 39,73 (1/B) |
1.16,48 (3/A) 1.16,92 (4/A) |
— | — | — | — | — | — |
| Date | Distance | Time | Rink |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Mar 2001 | Small Allround Women | 155.576 | Calgary |
| 26 Jan 2003 | Allround Women | 159.723 | Salt Lake City-Kearns |
| 9 Jan 2005 | 1500 m Women | 1.53,87 | Salt Lake City-Kearns |
| 9 Jan 2005 | Allround Women | 159.605 | Salt Lake City-Kearns |
| 28 Oct 2005 | 1500 m Women | 1.53,77 | Calgary |
| 12 Nov 2005 | 3000 m Women | 3.55,75 | Calgary |
| 20 Nov 2005 | 1500 m Women | 1.51,79 | Salt Lake City-Kearns |
| 22 Jan 2006 | Allround Women | 157.177 | Calgary |
| 18 Mar 2006 | 3000 m Women | 3.53,34 | Calgary |
| 19 Mar 2006 | Allround Women | 154.580 | Calgary |
| 24 Mar 2006 | 1000 m Women | 1.13,46 | Calgary |
| 25 Mar 2006 | 1000 m Women | 1.13,11 | Calgary |
| 26 Mar 2006 | Sprint Women | 149.305 | Calgary |