Clara Hughes
[3]Clara Hughes, OC, OM, MSC OLY[4] (born September 27, 1972) is a Canadian cyclist and speed skater who has won multiple Olympic medals in both sports. Hughes won two bronze in the 1996 Summer Olympics and four medals (one gold, one silver, two bronze) over the course of three Winter Olympics.[5]
Personal information
Clara Hughes
Canadian
176 cm (5 ft 9 in)[2]
69 kg (152 lb)
Peter Guzman
February 24, 2010 (speed skating)
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Hughes is one of the few athletes who have competed in both the Summer and Winter Olympic games.[6] Hughes is one of only six people to have podium finishes in the Winter and Summer versions of the Games, and is the only person ever to have won multiple medals in both.[7][8][9] Hughes was the first Canadian woman to win a medal in road cycling at the Olympics, winning two in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.[5]
As a result of her success in multiple sports and her humanitarian efforts, Hughes was named to both the Order of Manitoba and as an Officer of the Order of Canada. She is involved with Right To Play, which is an athlete-driven international humanitarian organization that uses sports to encourage the development of youth in disadvantaged areas.[10] After winning her gold medal in 2006,
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Personal life[edit]
She is the National Spokesperson for the Bell Canada 'Let's Talk Mental Health' initiative, including Bell 'Let's Talk Day'.[26] Hughes uses her past struggles with depression to relate to others and to help combat issues including the stigma involved with mental health issues. "Hughes battled deep depression, which threatened to derail her life, after winning two bronze medals in cycling at the 1996 Olympics."[27] Since 2013, Hughes has initiated annual bike rides across Canada in order to raise awareness about mental health.[28] In 2015, a CTV-produced documentary Clara's Big Ride premiered on the fifth annual Bell Let's Talk Day (a national mental health awareness day in Canada).[29] Her memoir, Open Heart, Open Mind, was published in 2015.[30]
Honours[edit]
In 2006, she was awarded the Order of Manitoba, and in 2007, she was made a Member of the Order of Canada.
On May 23, 2008, she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Law from the University of Manitoba.
In 2008, Hughes was named an in motion Champion by the Province of Manitoba.
On February 12, 2010, she was the Canadian Olympic Team flag bearer for the Opening Ceremonies of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver.[33]
On April 7, 2010, she was made an officer of the Order of Canada.[34][35]
On June 8, 2010, it was announced that she would receive a star on Canada's Walk of Fame.[36]
On September 23, 2010, she received an honorary degree from the University of New Brunswick in a special Toronto ceremony.[37]
On November 15, 2010, Hughes was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame.[38]
On January 16, 2012, The Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS) announced Hughes as one of twenty women selected to the Most Influential Women in Sport and Physical Activity list (MIW) for 2011.[39] The objective of the list is to focus on women who are leaders and role models making a difference on the Canadian or international scene. The women on the MIW are influential women who contributed in a significant way to sport and physical activity in the year 2011. This is Clara Hughes third time on the CAAWS Most Influential Women List.
On April 27, 2013, the steep hill on Sydenham Road in Dundas, Ontario on which she trained for seven years was officially renamed 'Clara's Climb'. There is a plaque there in her honour describing her training and accomplishments.
In 2014, Hughes received the Loyola Medal from Concordia University.[40]
On June 30, 2014, Hughes was honoured with the Meritorious Service Cross (Civil Division).[41]
On January 29, 2015, the official opening ceremony was held for a school named after Hughes. Open since September 2014, the Clara Hughes Public School is located in Oshawa, Ontario. At the ceremony, Hughes said, "It is without exception the greatest honour that I have in my life, to have my name here."[42]
On June 14, 2016, Hughes was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Law from the University of Victoria.
Official website
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