It was then she found her next teacher, Xiuli Wang, a former Chinese speed skater who guides her to this day. Shes back on the bike with her eyes firmly set on London 2012. Clara Hughes, OC, OM, MSC OLY[3] (born September 27, 1972) is a Canadian cyclist and speed skater who has won multiple Olympic medals in both sports. But for Clara, its not enough just to give money. But at the time, I didn't care about anything. Clara Hughes was in charge of buying the beer. I just had a very strong sense of whatever I wanted to do at the time. Talking about it is the first step to getting better. She has the qualities of a true leader. He likes being out in the woods alone or with just one person; hes done things like walk the Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico solo. Its a privilege, she says. Its the same as when Id be standing at the start line, say at a skating race, and Id be terr-i-fied. Her mother called the Winnipeg Speed Skating Club and found out there was a spring training camp. How many times has Clara Hughes been married? But my dad has always supported people around him, too. Published Tuesday, January 27, 2015 10:42AM EST, 11,000 kilometres later: Highlights from Clara's Big Ride, Canadian, back home from Ukraine, shares harrowing stories of life on the front lines, Winnipeg woman's husband dies on honeymoon in Mexico, B.C. My mom would be so worried about me. WebPeter is the current President of the Latin Chamber of Commerce. I am still She's tough as nails, has an incredible pain threshold and refuses to accept anything less than the best from herself. [25] Hughes uses her past struggles with depression to relate to others and to help combat issues including the stigma involved with mental health issues. My mom was with me. Photo by: Seriously. When Im on that bike and sprinting against a com-petitor, I have so much fun. Another with depression says she was told by her physician to not talk about it because people would judge her. The idea for this hike grew from Clara and Peters desire to give some of the youth of the program a chance to experience what they had on the land in the Torngats. Hughes rode across Canada to raise awareness about mental health and help end the stigma around mental illness. I am still What would I do with it? Hughes served as a commentator for cycling events for the CBC's coverage of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. "And so there I was, this undisciplined, pseudo-amoral girl, young adolescent, and this thing happened inside of me. She went from failing school to becoming a straight-A student. Don't ask questions. Subscribe today to get the full Best Health experienceand never miss an issue! He's the kind of guy who will spend a whole conversation asking you questions about yourself, never talking about himself unless asked. Just 13, she was the ringleader of a group of hardscrabble kids who partied in the stairwells of parking garages in the dead of Clara Hughes hardly needs an introduction, so maybe this will do: Shes awesome! "The conversation is stimulated and people are really reaching out more and more and more, but what is there for them to reach out to? This is Clara Hughes third time on the CAAWS Most Influential Women List. He started getting aggressive with his homecare workers, so he had to go into a geriatric psychiatric ward. This is Clara Hughes third time on the CAAWS Most Influential Women List. We sat down with Clara Hughes a few days before she began the epic 12,000 kilometre, 110-day ride known as Claras Big Ride, Source: Best Health magazine, Summer 2014, In case you hadnt heard, Clara Hughes is cycling the circumference of Canada. Hughes won two bronze in the 1996 Summer Works (1) Titles: Order: Open Heart, Open Mind by Clara Hughes: Character description. Hughes and her husband Peter Guzman are celebrating their 25th year of being in each others lives, and they spend as much time outside as possible. Thats what I dream of.(new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=211270ca-96aa-42a9-9b9e-124313270ee0&cid=877050e7-52c9-4c33-a20b-d8301a08f96d'; cnxps.cmd.push(function () { cnxps({ playerId: "211270ca-96aa-42a9-9b9e-124313270ee0" }).render("1d22893a55fb43ee89ad9fbeafd44000"); }); As the magazine partner for Claras Big Ride, Best Health had the chance for a candid talk with her on a cold, snowy morning in Toronto just days before she headed out on the ride of her life. And he kayaked from Washington State to Skagway, Alaskaalso solo. The woman who will be unveiled Friday as the flag-bearer to lead the Canadian team into B.C. No exaggeration: This saved my life [shaking her head]. The Dempster Highway is dirt and it should be frozen; were going to be riding the 800 kilometres on studded tires. Clara Hughes has been married once. In 2014, Hughes received the Loyola Medal from Concordia University. Skip to main content.us. I just think that we really, really need to take a hard look at what were doing. I want to see them given the best tools and support so they can do their job at its highest level and then go home and feel, I love my work. Theres a lot of good stuff happening, and actually this Ride is bringing organizations together like never before. She was then named to the 2006 List of Most Influential Women in Sport and Physical Activity by the Canadian Association for Advancement of Women and Sport (CAAWS). I really got into hiking, Hughes said. WebClara Hughes Marriage Info. (I hadnt realized she is five foot nine.) Hughes was inspired, but initially still regressed into her old bad habits. In the 2000/2001 season, Hughes made a successful comeback to speed skating, participating in the World Single Distance Championships in Salt Lake City, where she finished 11th in the 3000m. Hughes is one of the few athletes who have competed in both the Summer and Winter Olympic games. The doctor demystified it for me and told me what I needed to do and said, Were here for you.. Four minutes and youre done.what are you going to make those four minutes? WebCommon Knowledge People/Characters Peter Guzman. And competitors had better get out of her way, because although the long, lean Clara has a laid-back and friendly attitude when shes not competing, I can tell you from experience that once shes in race modeor even talking about racing and winningyou can see from the intensity in her green eyes that she is absolutely driven. During the games she won a bronze medal in the 5,000 metres which was also the final Olympic speed skating race of her career. Clara Hughes gave me a reassuring squeeze around the shoulders and gave me her favourite medal to wear in the picture I was taking with her. Its an initiative that grew out of the Bell Lets Talk campaign, for which Hughes is spokesperson; she herself has struggled with mental illness. On April 7, 2010, she was made an officer of the Order of Canada. But there will definitely be another one. (Clara says in the past five years, she has spent no more than three weeks at a time in one place.). 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. And thats when I had the idea for the Ride. Hughes was also a world record holder on 10,000m track with 14:19.73 on March 13, 2007, on the Olympic Oval in Calgary, which was beaten by Martina Sblkov one year later. For example, when Clara won a gold medal in the Turin Winter Olympics in 2006, she donated $10,000 of her personal earnings to RTPand this was before Canada was giving medal bonuses. Clara Hughes has not been divorced. This article was originally titled "You go, Clara!" People probably dont know what I can do. This brought her career medals total to six, tying teammate Cindy Klassen as the Canadian athlete with the most medals. He is the person Im closest to. As a professor and an art collector, he was always commissioning art from struggling artists; thats benevolence. There is a plaque there in her honour describing her training and accomplishments. They share a passion for being surrounded by nature in the precious times they get to be together. Hughes would also have the good fortune of encountering coaches who would become her guides on an incredible journey that has seen her become the first Canadian to win medals at both the Summer and Winter Olympics. I said, Dad, its Clara, did you see I won the bronze medal? He didnt know who I was. 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. So what I do comes from him, too. Ive walked through the Continental Divide on the Great Divide Trail and bike paths all through all of the mountain ranges from the Continental Divide all the way to the coastal spine., Hughes believes that humans need to look more to nature to help guide them in their journeys. Rare video captures birth of elephant seal in B.C. Clara Hughes was married to Peter Guzman. In 2006, she was awarded the Order of Manitoba, and in 2007, she was made a Member of the Order of Canada. Comments are moderated and will not appear on site until they have been reviewed. In 2006, she received the International Olympic Committee's Sport and Community Trophy. At press time, she and her team were about half-finished, having pedalled roads in Ontario, Quebec, Atlantic Canada, all three territoriesincluding the Arctic Circle and Dempster HighwayB.C. Hughes became a spokesperson for the Bell Let's Talk campaign because of her own experience with depression. In 2014, Hughes received the Loyola Medal from Concordia University. Klassen set a new record in the same games, winning five medals in Turin, for a total of six. He has helped me find peace with certain things and realize Im not a superperson, I cant just change myself or the world, that theres a lot of work I need to do on myself with the help of a professional. Hughes was mesmerized. We can show that we are more than just athletes. "What I like the most about it, and what I think people will be very surprised at, is most of it is not actually about riding a bike. "It makes me realize I will be competitive until my grave. She sometimes rode 200 kilometres in a day. WebSuper stoked to hand-deliver paddleboards to Clara Hughes & Peter Guzman! Im 49 years old and Im still looking for trees for a place to hang my hammock and put my tent. And water bottles would freeze. Share on Twitter. (The 12,000 kilometres is distance she is covering by bike; there are sections she and the team are to fly over, such as from Yellowknife to Inuvik.). On September 23, 2010, she received an honorary degree from the University of New Brunswick in a special Toronto ceremony. I got my ass kicked. There was this kid in Ethiopia whod had his hand blown off by a land mine. They deserved to be having fun. When Im on the bike, Ill remind myself that if we quit, the kids will know, and everything Ive said will be negated. "That exhaustion that was briefly shown was an every single day reality probably for the last 85 days of the ride," Hughes said. What makes a champion isnt how many medals are hanging around our necks. I try to achieve a mind-body onenessjust doing and being.. But back to speedskating. She was there with her road team, sponsored by Specialized bikes and Lululemon. With a headwind, youre on your bike, going as hard as you canand that grain elevator you saw ahead in the distance four hours ago? I wasn't into really hard drugs, but I was doing a fair amount of soft drugs and just partying a lot. Im definitely back in bike mode., Like some other former Canadian pro cyclists, Hughes has been bitten by the bikepacking bug. Please be advised: We couldnt be more opposite. Clara Hughes, left, a multiple Olympic medalist, rides her bike near Millarville, Alta., Friday, May 30, 2014. We will not publish comments that are profane, libelous, racist, or engage in personal attacks. Her time of 6:55.73 became a new track record, though her time was soon beaten by Stephanie Beckert of Germany and gold medalist Martina Sblkov of the Czech Republic. Klassen set a new record in the same games, winning five medals in Turin, for a total of six. People/Characters by cover. Feeling just heavy. "I look at that period of my life, I have friends from that time who are severe alcoholics and have major social problems and life problems," said Hughes. WebClara Hughes was in charge of buying the beer. But my dad was also an alcoholic. The six-time Olympic medallist has mostly been walking, using her bike mostly for commuting or getting groceries. Hughes uses her past struggles with depression to relate to others and to help combat issues including the stigma involved with mental health issues. It's about 10 different stories along the way of predominantly younger Canadians and what their struggle was, what their story is.". Subscribe today to get the full Best Health experienceand never miss an issue! Hughes and Guzman hiked 850 kilometres of the Appalachian Trail from Dec. 3 to Jan. 12 and winter-camped along the way. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. Seeing Gaetan Boucher win at speed skating in Calgary meant so much to me. I used to think, What am I doing training for the Olympics when theres so much that needs to be done in mental health? Its terrifying when I feel low, so I talk to someone who can prevent me from dragging down any lower. Clara Hughes @claraaanehughes, Heres Clara Hughes giving some tips on how not to speed skate. When did Clara Hughes get divorced? And its so important for me to be in nature, connecting with myself, feeling my body, that I thought, How can I give this feeling, how can I give an ounce of this feeling and demonstrate the importance of movement as medicine? She earned her fifth Olympic medal at the 2006 Games, tying the total all-time Canadian medal count record, also held by Marc Gagnon and Phillip Edwards. But the lure of speed skating always remained for Hughes and she decided to return to her first love after the Sydney Olympics. Her time of 6:55.73 became a new track record, though her time was soon beaten by Stephanie Beckert of Germany and gold medalist Martina Sblkov of the Czech Republic. She would eventually return to the sport of speed skating at the age of 28, after achieving success in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. [36], On November 15, 2010, Hughes was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame.[37]. Five, 10, 15 years from now I cant wait to hear about kids who were inspired by me. At those Olympics, she won her first gold medal in the 5000m and a silver medal in the team pursuit as part of the Canadian team. You're just wasting your life.' Bonnie: When did your struggles with depression start?Clara: After the 1996 Olympics, I suffered two years of depression. I cant not try. What am I saying or doing? Shell have pedalled some 12,000 kilometres over 110 days, and have met thousands of Canadians at 200 community stops in each province and territory. My brain makes unreasonable requests of my body, she admits. Id thought I could do this alone. At the Chrono Gatineau time trials in May 2011, she finished first among an international slate of riders. People/Characters: Peter Guzman. With her experience and endurance earned through cycling, Hughes went on to a successful career competing in the 3,000m and 5,000m. This would eventually lead her to medal in these long-distance events at the Winter Olympics. "I was just, `Omigod, I want to do that. For example, Peter walked the Continental Divide solo from Mexico to Canada; it took him seven months, walking 45 miles a day with a backpack. Hes a beautiful man. On June 8, 2010, it was announced that she would receive a star on Canada's Walk of Fame. So after London I was on a distance hike with Peter and I had this moment of, Okay, Im no longer an athlete. After four years of little riding, Clara Hughes is in love with her bike again. She participated at the 1991, 1995, 1999 and 2003 Pan American Games and won eight Pan American Games medals. 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. JF: I understand you experienced some personal challenges growing up in Manitoba. "When I see kids that are like that now, I think, `You don't know where this can lead you. In 2008, Hughes was named an in motion Champion by the Province of Manitoba. Im lucky. The celebrated Olympian, 41, started on March 14 in Toronto and will finish on July 1 on Parliament Hill. He was defending champion and finished ninthbut he never gave up before the finish line. Hughes was born in Winnipeg, and is a graduate of Elmwood High School. Hes my rock; he brings me back to the light. But, yeah, it is really hard. Her competitive spirit is hers alone, though, and will be one of the qualities that should serve Canada well in its new flag-bearer. [11] She was inspired to begin skating after witnessing Gatan Boucher at the 1988 Winter Olympics. On January 29, 2015, the official opening ceremony was held for a school named after Hughes. Tom Ford December 14, 2016. I'm not proud of who I was. But she would eventually burn out and after a series of injuries quit cycling briefly, only to revive her career under coach Eric Van Den Eynde in Quebec, where she would settle in the Eastern Townships. It's not about me. Sometimes she drives me crazy because she demands so much and sometimes I can't handle that. Does Clara Hughes have a husband? Her early days certainly didn't foreshadow a speed skater who would donate $10,000 out of her own bank account to the humanitarian group Right To Play after winning gold at the 2006 Turin Olympics. Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. Throughout her career Hughes received a number of other awards, trophies, and accolades. "Hughes battled deep depression, which threatened to derail her life, after winning two bronze medals in cycling at the 1996 Olympics. [18] In June 2012, she was selected to become part of Canada's 2012 London Olympics team, as one of four in cycling, with two other women and a man. I can give credit to the Indigenous peoples and communities who have been the original caretakers of this earth, Hughes said. We challenge each other, and we have a unique lifestyle, living in remote places. Clara Hughes - The Only Canadian Athlete Who Won Medals at Two Olympic Games - Canadian History for Kids - True Canadian Heroes. Share on LinkedIn. WebHughes touched down in towns in Labrador, Nunavut and Northwest Territories before embarking on the toughest cycling leg of the journey. Interior. Okay, here goes: The 39-year-old speed skater and cyclist, She is basically a saint; she cares for my grandmother at home. You have to make sure kids have the seed of hope. What will the kids be thinking, and how will that affect their little hearts and minds? I had really forgotten for those three years how fun a bike is., For Hughes, bike camping is about freedom, and connecting with nature. So many people I meet who work in the system, I dont know how they do their job. I have to try to make a difference. A legend, she won multiple Olympic medals in both Summer and We recommend our users to update the browser, We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer), 5 Cookbook Authors Share Tips for Getting Out of a Cooking Rut, 3 Ways Mindfulness Can Help You Get Through the Holiday Season. It was a big snow year down in the Sierra, and its a low snow year up in the North Cascades. [13], Hughes participated in the 1996 and 2000 Summer Olympics, winning two bronze medals at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, in the individual road race and the individual time trial. Thank you for following these guidelines and contributing your thoughts. Clara Hughess income source is mostly from being a successful Skater. With this, she became the second speed skater to win medals in the Summer and Winter Games Christa Luding-Rothenburger won a gold in the 1000m speed skating and silver in the 1000m cycling sprint in 1988. There would be an intervention, albeit not of the typical variety. Another way is her generosity to charitable organizations, including Right To Play (RTP). They met through a mutual friend in 1996. Hughes husband of 18 years, Peter Guzman, is doing the entire Ride with her, and Hughes has lined up three close cyclist friends who, one at a time, will join them Seriously, though, I just dont have that desire. And at the halfway mark of Claras Big Ride, approximately 50,000 people had attended events, We checked in with Hughes about halfway through the Ride about how she is feeling. On June 14, 2016, Hughes was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Law from the University of Victoria. We screen for comments that seek to spread information that is false or misleading. So after the London Olympics in 2012, I realized I finally had the time I wanted. RTP sets the stage to make it okay to have fun, even for disabled people and girls. Clara Hughes Height, Weight & Measurements At 49 years old, Clara Hughes height is 176 cm (5 ft 9 in) and Weight 69 kg (152 lb). But she sees Canada's health system and how it treats mental illness as another mountain to be climbed. [Now her eyes go very intense, and she leans in close, and speaks in a low, steady voice.] As a teenager, being cool was all I wanted to bethats the only thing that matteredand that meant being bad. Society doesnt support mental illness. She is tied with Cindy Klassen as the Canadian with the most Olympic medals, with six medals total. Clara Hughes's net worth In July 2011, she finished first in the inaugural Crusher in the Tushar in Beaver, Utah. Clara Hughes @claraaanehughes. After four years of little riding, Clara Hughes is in love with her bike again. [23] During the games she won a bronze medal in the 5,000 metres which was also the final Olympic speed skating race of her career. 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. "He lets you believe in the possibilities and never limit yourself to one way. On 6 October 2014, author Jeremy Freeborn interviewed Clara Hughes for The Canadian Encyclopedia. Its a really beautiful team environment. Its always been my goal to be that inspirational person. I was wasting my life. Im from Winnipeg, and its wicked. In an interview on CBC radio show Definitely Not the Opera, Hughes reveals that as a youth, she smoked cigarettes, drank a lot at a young age and did a lot of drugs, admitting she did not envision herself as an athlete. And the greatest one has been the love of riding a bike and the adventures. The kids we help through RTP, they get a sparkle in their eyes, a light, and its what happened to me when I saw Boucher. I struggled with depression while competing, because of the pressure and expectations from outside and inside; I go into this place. A four-time participant of the women's Tour de France, Hughes has won the 1994 Women's Challenge and the 1997 Liberty Classic. We have huge mitts on, so we wont be able to go into our pockets. I dont know who I am, but Im moving, and I feel good. How is that mother doing whose kid has been on a waiting list for three years to see a mental health professional? Then we could get snow in the Rockies. Related Im definitely back in bike mode again. Preference is given to commenters who use real names. I got on this hiking rampage, walking kilometres and kilometres of trails. 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. 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'. I didn't have respect for anyone or myself.". She would eventually return to the sport of speed skating at the age of 28, after achieving success in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. 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. I try to share that story as much as possible, to show that people can change, and to get parents to get kids into anything the kids are interested init could change their lives, too. She became the fourth person and second woman to win medals at the Summer and Winter Games. I wouldnt say I was suicidal, but I did have moments when I felt I didnt want to be here anymore.

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