By Steve Schy
Turin
23 February 2006

World record holder Cindy Klassen of Canada has won the women's 1500 meter speed skating gold medal, while her teammate, Kristina Groves, picked up the silver. It was the first Olympic gold of Klassen's career and her fourth medal at the Turin Games.

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Cindy Klassen

Cindy Klassen put on a dominating performance at the Oval Lingotto Wednesday night, winning the gold medal in 1:55.27 minutes. That was 1.47 seconds faster that fellow-Canadian Kristina Groves, who captured her first Olympic medal.

Ireen Wust of the Netherlands took the bronze, another .16 of a second back, edging out race favorite Anni Friesinger of Germany.

Skating against Friesinger in the next-to-last pair, Klassen took control of the race during the first lap of 3 3/4 laps. Klassen said it was a really exciting day for her team and for Canada.

"Anytime we can get two of us on the podium is, one of us is awesome and two is even better. So, I think we are both just really happy and to be 1-2 is really exciting for both of us," she said.

Jennifer Rodriguez was the top American skater, finishing more than four seconds back in eighth place.