TORONTO (CP) - Speedskater Cindy Klassen, who captured five medals at the Turin Olympics, won the 2006 Lou Marsh Award on Monday.
The award, decided by a panel of sports editors and broadcasters, is given annually to Canada's outstanding athlete by the Toronto Star. In Turin, Klassen won gold in the 1,500 metres, silver in the 1,000 and the team pursuit and bronze in the 3,000 and 5,000 metres to become Canada's most-decorated athlete in any one Games.
Klassen said she was surprised to hear that she had won the honour.
"I didn't really know what to expect," she told the Star. "When we were on the ice this morning, I found out. It was a pretty exciting moment. I was with my teammates and my coach called us over to the side and we were all told that. It was pretty neat."
Klassen edged basketball star Steve Nash of Victoria.
"I heard that it was really close, too, so I feel really fortunate that I was able to win this award, especially going up against such athlete as Steve Nash, who won MVP two years in a row," said Klassen. "It's just a really nice way to end off the year."
The 27-year-old Winnipeg native's career total of six medals also makes her Canada's most decorated Olympian.
Klassen, who was voted The Canadian Press Female Athlete of Year in 2005, also captured the overall World Cup title in 2006 and holds three world records.
Nash, 32, won his second straight NBA MVP award this year. He won the Lou Marsh and was voted CP's Male Athlete of the Year in 2005.
Other finalists this year were American League MVP Justin Morneau, Olympic gold-medal winning speedskater Clara Hughes, NHL MVP Joe Thornton, Olympic champion freestyle skier Jennifer Heil and Maurice Richard Trophy winner Jonathan Cheechoo.
The Lou Marsh Award is named after a former Toronto Star sports editor.
The panel of voters comprised representatives from the Star, The Canadian Press, the FAN590/Primetime Sports, The Globe and Mail, Sportsnet, CTV/TSN, Montreal La Presse and the National Post.
The Canadian Press announces its athlete of the year award winners later this month. The CP awards are decided by sports editors and broadcasters across the country.
Copyright © 2006 Canadian Press
The award, decided by a panel of sports editors and broadcasters, is given annually to Canada's outstanding athlete by the Toronto Star. In Turin, Klassen won gold in the 1,500 metres, silver in the 1,000 and the team pursuit and bronze in the 3,000 and 5,000 metres to become Canada's most-decorated athlete in any one Games.
Klassen said she was surprised to hear that she had won the honour.
"I didn't really know what to expect," she told the Star. "When we were on the ice this morning, I found out. It was a pretty exciting moment. I was with my teammates and my coach called us over to the side and we were all told that. It was pretty neat."
Klassen edged basketball star Steve Nash of Victoria.
"I heard that it was really close, too, so I feel really fortunate that I was able to win this award, especially going up against such athlete as Steve Nash, who won MVP two years in a row," said Klassen. "It's just a really nice way to end off the year."
The 27-year-old Winnipeg native's career total of six medals also makes her Canada's most decorated Olympian.
Klassen, who was voted The Canadian Press Female Athlete of Year in 2005, also captured the overall World Cup title in 2006 and holds three world records.
Nash, 32, won his second straight NBA MVP award this year. He won the Lou Marsh and was voted CP's Male Athlete of the Year in 2005.
Other finalists this year were American League MVP Justin Morneau, Olympic gold-medal winning speedskater Clara Hughes, NHL MVP Joe Thornton, Olympic champion freestyle skier Jennifer Heil and Maurice Richard Trophy winner Jonathan Cheechoo.
The Lou Marsh Award is named after a former Toronto Star sports editor.
The panel of voters comprised representatives from the Star, The Canadian Press, the FAN590/Primetime Sports, The Globe and Mail, Sportsnet, CTV/TSN, Montreal La Presse and the National Post.
The Canadian Press announces its athlete of the year award winners later this month. The CP awards are decided by sports editors and broadcasters across the country.
Copyright © 2006 Canadian Press