GRAND BEACH, MB

Legendary Olympic speed-skater Cindy Klassen took to the waters at Grand Beach this past week wearing the same pair of speed-skates she wore when she won 5 medals at the 2006 Turin Games.

“A lot of people don’t know this about me, but I haven’t taken these things off in over twenty years,” said Klassen. “After a life dedicated to speed-skating, I just can’t get used to wearing sandals or shoes, so I just leave on the skates. How else do you think I got so good?”

Klassen spent the entire afternoon at the beach, swimming and relaxing in the sand, the whole time working on her forward stride.

“It’s a lot easier to get around when the lake is frozen,” explained Klassen, “but I figure if I can maneuver myself through the sand and water I should have no trouble on the ice.”

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