All Topics  
Clara Hughes

 
Clara Hughes

 
   Email Print
   Bookmark   Link
 

 

Clara Hughes
 
 
  Topics Clara Hughes Topic Home

Clara Hughes, OC
Order of Canada

The Order of Canada is Canada's highest civilian order and is the centrepiece of the Orders, decorations, and medals of Canada. Membership in the order is accorded to those who exemplify the order's Latin motto, taken from Epistle to the Hebrews 11:16, desiderantes meliorem patriam, meaning "They desire a better country."...
, OM
Order of Manitoba

The Order of Manitoba, established in 1999, is the highest honour of the Province of Manitoba. A maximum of 12 individuals are granted the award annually, except during the first year of the award's existence, when a limit of 20 was set....
 (born September 27, 1972) is a Canadian
Canada

Canada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean....
 cyclist
Cycling

Cycling is the use of bicycles, or - less commonly - unicycles, tricycles, Quadracycle s and other similar wheeled human powered vehicles as a means of transport, a form of recreation or a sport....
 and speed skater
Speed skating

Speed skating or speedskating is a competition form of skating in which the competitors racing each other in travelling a certain distance on skating....
, and has won multiple Olympic
Olympic Games

The Olympic Games are an international multi-sport event established for both summer and winter sports. There have been two generations of the Olympic Games; the first were the Ancient Olympic Games held at Olympia, Greece, Greece....
 medal
Medal

A medal is usually a coin-like sculpted object of metal or other material that has been engraved with an insignia, portrait or other artistic rendering....
s in both sports. That makes her one of the few athletes to medal at both the Summer and Winter Games of the Olympics. She is involved with Right To Play
Right to Play

Right To Play is an athlete-based international humanitarian organization that emphasizes sports to aid the development of children and youth in underprivileged areas of the world....
, an athlete-driven international
International

International or internationally most often describes interaction between nations, or encompassing two or more nations, constituting a group or association having members in two or more nations, or generally reaching beyond national boundaries....
 humanitarian organization
Organization

An organization is a social arrangement which pursues collective goals, which controls its own performance, and which has a boundary separating it from its environment....
 that uses sports to encourage the development of youth in disadvantaged areas.

in Winnipeg,and a graduate of Elmwood High School, Hughes started with speed skating, but in 1990 she started competitive cycling, competing in track cycling
Track cycling

Track cycling is a bicycle racing sport usually held on specially-built banked tracks or velodromes using track bicycles.Track racing is also done on grass tracks marked out on flat sportsfields....
 and road cycling
Road bicycle racing

Road bicycle racing is a popular bicycle racing sport held on Road cycling , using racing bicycles. The term 'road racing' is usually applied to events where competing riders start simultaneously with the winner being the first at the end of the course ....
.

es participated in the 1996
1996 Summer Olympics

The 1996 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
 and 2000 Summer Olympics
2000 Summer Olympics

The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 13 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
, winning two bronze medals at the 1996 Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics

The 1996 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
 in Atlanta, in the individual road race and the individual time trial.

Hughes, an 18-time Canadian national cycling champion, won the silver medal
Silver medal

A silver medal is a medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc.First and third place finishers traditionally receive a gold medal and bronze medal, respectively....
 at the 1995 World Cycling Championships (Time Trial).

She participated at the 1991
1991 Pan American Games

The 11th Pan American Games were held in Havana, Cuba from August 2 to August 18, 1991....
, 1995
1995 Pan American Games

The 12th Pan American Games were held in Mar del Plata, Argentina, from March 11 to March 26, 1995. After 44 years, this was the Pan American Games first return to the country that initially hosted the Games in 1951 Pan American Games....
, 1999, and 2003 Pan American Games
2003 Pan American Games

The 14th Pan American Games were held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic from 1 to 17 August, 2003. The successful bid for the games was made in the mid-1990's, when this country had one of the highest growth rates in Latin America....
 and won eight Pan American Games medals, Also competing in the 1990
1990 Commonwealth Games

The 1990 Commonwealth Games were held in Auckland, New Zealand, New Zealand from 24 January-3 February 1990. It was the 14th Commonwealth Games, and part of New Zealand 1990 sesquicentennial celebrations....
, 1994
1994 Commonwealth Games

The 1994 Commonwealth Games were held from 18 August to 28 August 1994 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.The 15th Commonwealth Games marked South Africa return to the Commonwealth Games following the apartheid era, and over 30 years since the country last competed in the Games....
, and 2002 Commonwealth Games
2002 Commonwealth Games

The 2002 Commonwealth Games were held in Manchester, England from 25 July to 4 August 2002. The XVII Commonwealth Games was the largest multi-sport event ever to be held in England, eclipsing London's 1948 Summer Olympics in numbers of teams and athletes participating....
, Hughes won gold
Gold medal

A gold medal is typically the highest medal awarded for achievement in a non-military field. The concept comes from the military, initially with a simple recognition of military rank, and later decorations for admission to military orders dating back to medieval times....
 in the time trial and bronze
Bronze medal

A bronze medal is a medal awarded to the third place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. The practice of awarding bronze third place medals began at the 1904 Summer Olympics in St....
 in the points race on the velodrome
Velodrome

A velodrome is an arena for track cycling. Modern velodromes feature steeply banked oval tracks, consisting of two 180-degree circular bends connected by two straights....
.

A four-time participant of the women's Tour de France
Grande Boucle

The Grande Boucle, formerly known as the Tour Cycliste Feminin, or simply Tour Feminin, is one of the Grand Tour s of women's road bicycle racing in the world....
, Hughes has won the 1994 Women's Challenge
Women's Challenge

The Women's Challenge bicycle race was held annually in and around southern Idaho beginning in 1984 until its demise in 2002. During much of its 19 year history, it was the most prestigious women's cycle race in North America....
 and the 1997 Liberty Classic
Liberty Classic

The Liberty Classic is an annual women's bicycle race held simultaneously with the Philadelphia International Championship.The 57.6 mile race consists of four laps of a 14.4 mile circuit through Philadelphia with 5 climbs up the famous Philadelphia International Championship#Manayunk Wall....
.

Hughes served as a commentator for cycling events for the CBC's coverage of the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics

The 2008 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, People's Republic of China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008....
 in Beijing
Beijing

is a metropolis in northern China and the Capital of the People's Republic of China. It is one of the four municipality of China, which are equivalent to province in China's Political divisions of China....
.






Discussion
Ask a question about 'Clara Hughes'
Start a new discussion about 'Clara Hughes'
Answer questions from other users
Full Discussion Forum



Encyclopedia


Clara Hughes, OC
Order of Canada

The Order of Canada is Canada's highest civilian order and is the centrepiece of the Orders, decorations, and medals of Canada. Membership in the order is accorded to those who exemplify the order's Latin motto, taken from Epistle to the Hebrews 11:16, desiderantes meliorem patriam, meaning "They desire a better country."...
, OM
Order of Manitoba

The Order of Manitoba, established in 1999, is the highest honour of the Province of Manitoba. A maximum of 12 individuals are granted the award annually, except during the first year of the award's existence, when a limit of 20 was set....
 (born September 27, 1972) is a Canadian
Canada

Canada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean....
 cyclist
Cycling

Cycling is the use of bicycles, or - less commonly - unicycles, tricycles, Quadracycle s and other similar wheeled human powered vehicles as a means of transport, a form of recreation or a sport....
 and speed skater
Speed skating

Speed skating or speedskating is a competition form of skating in which the competitors racing each other in travelling a certain distance on skating....
, and has won multiple Olympic
Olympic Games

The Olympic Games are an international multi-sport event established for both summer and winter sports. There have been two generations of the Olympic Games; the first were the Ancient Olympic Games held at Olympia, Greece, Greece....
 medal
Medal

A medal is usually a coin-like sculpted object of metal or other material that has been engraved with an insignia, portrait or other artistic rendering....
s in both sports. That makes her one of the few athletes to medal at both the Summer and Winter Games of the Olympics. She is involved with Right To Play
Right to Play

Right To Play is an athlete-based international humanitarian organization that emphasizes sports to aid the development of children and youth in underprivileged areas of the world....
, an athlete-driven international
International

International or internationally most often describes interaction between nations, or encompassing two or more nations, constituting a group or association having members in two or more nations, or generally reaching beyond national boundaries....
 humanitarian organization
Organization

An organization is a social arrangement which pursues collective goals, which controls its own performance, and which has a boundary separating it from its environment....
 that uses sports to encourage the development of youth in disadvantaged areas.

Career

Born in Winnipeg,and a graduate of Elmwood High School, Hughes started with speed skating, but in 1990 she started competitive cycling, competing in track cycling
Track cycling

Track cycling is a bicycle racing sport usually held on specially-built banked tracks or velodromes using track bicycles.Track racing is also done on grass tracks marked out on flat sportsfields....
 and road cycling
Road bicycle racing

Road bicycle racing is a popular bicycle racing sport held on Road cycling , using racing bicycles. The term 'road racing' is usually applied to events where competing riders start simultaneously with the winner being the first at the end of the course ....
.

Cycling

Hughes participated in the 1996
1996 Summer Olympics

The 1996 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
 and 2000 Summer Olympics
2000 Summer Olympics

The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 13 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
, winning two bronze medals at the 1996 Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics

The 1996 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
 in Atlanta, in the individual road race and the individual time trial.

Hughes, an 18-time Canadian national cycling champion, won the silver medal
Silver medal

A silver medal is a medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc.First and third place finishers traditionally receive a gold medal and bronze medal, respectively....
 at the 1995 World Cycling Championships (Time Trial).

She participated at the 1991
1991 Pan American Games

The 11th Pan American Games were held in Havana, Cuba from August 2 to August 18, 1991....
, 1995
1995 Pan American Games

The 12th Pan American Games were held in Mar del Plata, Argentina, from March 11 to March 26, 1995. After 44 years, this was the Pan American Games first return to the country that initially hosted the Games in 1951 Pan American Games....
, 1999, and 2003 Pan American Games
2003 Pan American Games

The 14th Pan American Games were held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic from 1 to 17 August, 2003. The successful bid for the games was made in the mid-1990's, when this country had one of the highest growth rates in Latin America....
 and won eight Pan American Games medals, Also competing in the 1990
1990 Commonwealth Games

The 1990 Commonwealth Games were held in Auckland, New Zealand, New Zealand from 24 January-3 February 1990. It was the 14th Commonwealth Games, and part of New Zealand 1990 sesquicentennial celebrations....
, 1994
1994 Commonwealth Games

The 1994 Commonwealth Games were held from 18 August to 28 August 1994 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.The 15th Commonwealth Games marked South Africa return to the Commonwealth Games following the apartheid era, and over 30 years since the country last competed in the Games....
, and 2002 Commonwealth Games
2002 Commonwealth Games

The 2002 Commonwealth Games were held in Manchester, England from 25 July to 4 August 2002. The XVII Commonwealth Games was the largest multi-sport event ever to be held in England, eclipsing London's 1948 Summer Olympics in numbers of teams and athletes participating....
, Hughes won gold
Gold medal

A gold medal is typically the highest medal awarded for achievement in a non-military field. The concept comes from the military, initially with a simple recognition of military rank, and later decorations for admission to military orders dating back to medieval times....
 in the time trial and bronze
Bronze medal

A bronze medal is a medal awarded to the third place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. The practice of awarding bronze third place medals began at the 1904 Summer Olympics in St....
 in the points race on the velodrome
Velodrome

A velodrome is an arena for track cycling. Modern velodromes feature steeply banked oval tracks, consisting of two 180-degree circular bends connected by two straights....
.

A four-time participant of the women's Tour de France
Grande Boucle

The Grande Boucle, formerly known as the Tour Cycliste Feminin, or simply Tour Feminin, is one of the Grand Tour s of women's road bicycle racing in the world....
, Hughes has won the 1994 Women's Challenge
Women's Challenge

The Women's Challenge bicycle race was held annually in and around southern Idaho beginning in 1984 until its demise in 2002. During much of its 19 year history, it was the most prestigious women's cycle race in North America....
 and the 1997 Liberty Classic
Liberty Classic

The Liberty Classic is an annual women's bicycle race held simultaneously with the Philadelphia International Championship.The 57.6 mile race consists of four laps of a 14.4 mile circuit through Philadelphia with 5 climbs up the famous Philadelphia International Championship#Manayunk Wall....
.

Hughes served as a commentator for cycling events for the CBC's coverage of the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics

The 2008 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, People's Republic of China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008....
 in Beijing
Beijing

is a metropolis in northern China and the Capital of the People's Republic of China. It is one of the four municipality of China, which are equivalent to province in China's Political divisions of China....
.

Long track speed skating

In the 2000/2001 season, Hughes made a successful comeback to speed skating
Speed skating

Speed skating or speedskating is a competition form of skating in which the competitors racing each other in travelling a certain distance on skating....
, participating in the World Single Distance Championships
World Single Distance Championships

The World Single Distance Championships are a series of speed skating competitions organised by the International Skating Union....
 in Salt Lake City, where she finished 11th at the 3000m.

The following season, she qualified for the 2002 Winter Olympics
2002 Winter Olympics

The 2002 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XIX Olympic Winter Games were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in 2002 in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States....
. After placing 10th in the 3000m, she won the bronze medal in the 5000m, just ahead of compatriot Cindy Klassen
Cindy Klassen

Cindy Klassen is a Canada Speed Skating and Canada's all-time most decorated Olympic Games.Klassen is a descendant of Mennonite immigrants to Manitoba and is a graduate of Maple Leaf School in the North Kildonan area of Winnipeg and Mennonite Brethern Collegiate in the Elmwood area of Winnipeg....
. With this, she became the second speed skater to win medals in the Summer and Winter Games — Christa Rothenburger
Christa Rothenburger

Christa Luding-Rothenburger is a former Speed skating and track cyclist. She was born in Wei?wasser, East Germany....
 won a gold in the 1000m speed skating and silver in the 1000m cycling sprint in 1988. She became the fourth person and second woman to win medals at the Summer and Winter Games. In 2006, she was the only Olympian to have won multiple medals at the Summer Games as well as at the Winter Games.

In 2006
Canada at the 2006 Winter Olympics

Canada competed at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, with a team of 196 athletes and 220 support staff.As host of the upcoming 2010 Winter Olympics, Canada was pressured to do well at the 2006 Games....
, although she had not been asked, she announced she would not carry the Canadian flag during the Opening Ceremonies
2006 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony

The Opening Ceremony of the 2006 Winter Olympics was held on February 10, 2006 beginning at 20:00 Central European Time at the Stadio Olimpico in Turin, Italy....
 of the 2006 Winter Olympics
2006 Winter Olympics

The 2006 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Turin, Italy from February 10, 2006, through February 26, 2006....
 in Turin, Italy. At those Olympics, she won her first gold medal in the 5000m and a silver medal
Silver medal

A silver medal is a medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc.First and third place finishers traditionally receive a gold medal and bronze medal, respectively....
 in the team pursuit as part of the Canadian team. She earned her fifth Olympic medal at the 2006 Games, tying the total medal count record going into the Games held by Marc Gagnon
Marc Gagnon

Marc Gagnon is a French Canadian short track speed skating. He is a four-time individual World Champion and winner of three Olympic Games gold medals....
 and Phillip Edwards
Phil Edwards

Dr. Philip "Phil" Aaron Edwards Doctor of Medicine , Track and field athletics athlete the "Man of Bronze", was Canada most-decorated Olympic Games, the first Black Canadian man to win a trophy at what are now known as the Commonwealth Games, and the first-ever winner of the Lou Marsh Trophy as Canada's top athlete....
. However Klassen won five medals in Turin, for a total of six.

Inspired by Joey Cheek
Joey Cheek

William Joseph Cheek is an United States Speed Skating and former inline speed skating. He specializes in the short and middle distances....
, who donated his gold medal bonus to Right to Play
Right to Play

Right To Play is an athlete-based international humanitarian organization that emphasizes sports to aid the development of children and youth in underprivileged areas of the world....
, Hughes donated $10,000 of her own money to the NGO after her gold medal win in the 5000 . (Canada did not give out medal bonuses at the time).

Hughes was also a world record
List of speed skating records

This list of speed skating records is an overview of the current speed skating records in its various events....
 holder on 10,000 m track with 14:19.73 on 12 March 2005 on the Olympic Oval
Olympic Oval

The Olympic Oval in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, is a covered speed skating oval built for the 1988 Winter Olympics. It is now home for the Calgary Oval X-Treme female ice hockey team of the National Women's Hockey League....
 in Calgary
Calgary

Calgary is the largest city in the province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and High Plains, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies....
, which was beaten by Martina Sáblíková
Martina Sáblíková

Martina S?bl?kov? is a Czech Republic speedskater, specializing in long distance races. She is the elder sister of fellow speedskater Milan S?bl?k....
 one year later. However, that time is still the Canadian record.

Sponsors

  • Sponsored by Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, Bell, COLD-FX, Pure Fruit Technologies, Adidas Eyewear & VISA for the 2008-2009 season.


Honors

In 2006, she was awarded the Order of Manitoba
Order of Manitoba

The Order of Manitoba, established in 1999, is the highest honour of the Province of Manitoba. A maximum of 12 individuals are granted the award annually, except during the first year of the award's existence, when a limit of 20 was set....
. In 2007, she was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada

The Order of Canada is Canada's highest civilian order and is the centrepiece of the Orders, decorations, and medals of Canada. Membership in the order is accorded to those who exemplify the order's Latin motto, taken from Epistle to the Hebrews 11:16, desiderantes meliorem patriam, meaning "They desire a better country."...
.

On May 23rd, 2008, she was awarded an honorary doctorate degree from the University of British Columbia.

External links