Cindy Klassen became the first Canadian to win 5 medals in one Olympics when she picked up a gold, two silver and two bronze in Turin in 2006 - in speed skating. After representing Canada at Lacrosse in the 1994 Commonwealth Games, she came close to making the Canadian Ice Hockey team for the 1998 Olympics. She recalls, "I was devastated when I was cut from the team. I just tried to believe it was God's plan".
She did make it to the Olympics in 2002, but in speed-skating. She recalls being so nervous that she could not eat. When she checked her email the night before her race, she read messages from friends saying they were praying for her. That gave her the confidence she needed and she won bronze in the 3000 meters.
In 2006 her goal was "to do better than I had done in 2002". With gold in the 1500, silver in the 1000 meters and Team Pursuit, plus bronze in the 3000 and 5000, she certainly achieved her goal.
Having grown up in a Christian family she says that faith in God has always been there. "God is part of all of my life - including skating. He has given me this talent and it is all about using it for his glory - in competition and in training, doing it all for him. Jesus is everything to me. I cannot get through one day without him. I was so aware of his love for me and that he died on the cross for me. He is my shepherd and I am grateful to him for everything."
Cindy is really looking forward to competing in the 2010 Olympics in her own country. "It will be incredible with the homecrowd cheering me on." She realizes that there will be a pressure of expectations on her but she is not fazed. "I try to turn it around and see people's expectations of me as support not pressure. I probably won't read the papers in the run up to the Games so I won't know what people are writing about me. I see the home crowd as a positive not a pressure".
Prayer is another key to her life: "Prayer is talking to God and listening to him. that is so important. I so admire Brother Lawrence and the idea of practicing the presence of God and praying every moment of the day".
The testimony above came courtesy of More Than Gold. Check out the More Than Gold website for more information on some of things that More Than Gold is doing in preparation for the Olympics.