Cindy Klassen of Canada won the women's 1,500-meter speed
skating on Wednesday to take her Turin Games medal tally to
four.
Klassen, who has already won two silvers and a bronze, clinched
the gold in a time of 1.55.27.
Compatriot Kristina Groves, whose stunning race of 1:56.27 saw
her lead until Klassen's run, settled for the silver, while Dutch
threat Ireen Wust ended up third.
Defending Olympic champion Anni Friesinger from Germany and
Dutch skater Marianne Timmer were left out of the medals.
Klassen relished the occasion that Canadian skaters finished
one-two in the race. "For us to both on the podium together after
such amazing race is wonderful. I couldn't have done it without my
coach and team-mates. I've had a really good year," she said.
After bagging her fourth medal in Turin, the 26-year-old skater
sent out a warning to her competitors in the 5,000-meter race, the
women's next event.
"I guess I've so much fun that I've been able to stay relaxed,"
she said. "That's important for me, the more relaxed I am, the
better I skate."
"I want to enjoy this moment tonight and then re-focus for the
5,000 meters. I still have work to do," she added.
Friesinger was left in a listless mood after her lackluster
skate. "For quite a while there was no speed in my skating and I
don't know why that was," she said.
"I'm very tired at the moment. Sometimes you have a good
recovery but at this moment I don't have it. I hoped for a medal
and I expected it, but it didn't work out," she said.
(Xinhua News Agency February 23, 2006)