November 17/10 11:52 am - Clara Hughes Returns to Cycling

Posted by Editor on 11/17/10
 

Two-time Olympic cycling medal winner Clara Hughes, who just retired from speedskating after winning her sixth Olympic medal in Vancouver, has now publicly admitted she is planning to return to cycling, with a view to going to the 2012 London Games.

We spoke with Clara about this in August, when she admitted she was pondering the idea of returning to her first cycling love - the track. The impetus for the return was the inclusion of the Team Pursuit to the women's Olympic program, and the chance to race with Canada's new star of women's cycling, Tara Whitten.

At that time, Hughes was in the process of finishing her final post-Vancouver speaking engagements, and commentating at the Mountain Bike World Championships in Mont Ste Anne, Quebec (as well as moving to a new house in Utah). Clara said that all plans were on hold until those commitments were completed.

"This is great stuff. I am really looking forward to working with her when she makes her return to the track," commented National Track Coach Richard Wooles.  "It shows that when someone like Clara is thinking about investing her time in the Women's Track Program that she believes we are heading for a medal chance in London."

There is the further intriguing possibility of another Canadian speedskating star trying cycling - Kristina Groves.

Randy Starkman, of the Toronto Star, has an interview with Clara Here.

See also the CBC Interview