Six-time Olympic speed skating medallist Cindy Klassen, seen at the 2006 Winter Games in Turin, recommends ascending swimming star Summer McIntosh 'go out and have fun, enjoy the moment' at upcoming Paris Games, as she looks to leave her own Olympic mark.
Olympic champion speedskater Cindy Klassen was dubbed "the woman of the Games" in 2006 by former IOC president Jacques Rogge. Eighteen years later, Canada has another multi-medal talent on its hands in Summer McIntosh, and Klassen is moved by her inspiring ascension in the pool.
"I'm going to be so excited for her and proud of her. It could be such a great thing for all of Canada. There's a lot of people going through hard times right now and to be able to watch her, regardless of how she does, but if she gets five or six medals, it would be so uplifting for our country. It can bring people hope. I hope she can do it."
"It's tough because you want to be able to give more, but sometimes you do the best that you can and you listen to the plan, you have to trust that and stick with it," Klassen said.She was guided in Turin by coach Neal Marshall, who says the Olympic Games are a beast to tame when an athlete has multi-medal potential.
Marshall looked at Klassen's training and racing history and made a dramatic change to her 1,500-metre prep to get her legs firing. McIntosh is surrounded by teammates who have stepped on the Olympic podium — Penny Oleksiak, Kylie Masse, Maggie Mac Neil and Sydney Pickrem — and could again in Paris.
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