Article content

The year was 2003.

It was three years before Cindy Klassen was a household name when she became the first female speed skater to win five medals in the 2006 Winter Olympic Games.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Stamps star Mitchell, Olympian Klassen share message of resiliency Back to video

Klassen was taking a lap in speed skating training when she took a spill on the ice.

Without warning, the next thing she knew her arm was sliced open by the others skate.

“I ended up cutting 12 tendons, a nerve and an artery — this was about a week before we were supposed to leave for the fall World Cups,” said the now-retired speed skater, who works as a constable with the Calgary Police Service. “I was on the ice, bleeding and I was starting to pass out. I was rushed off to the hospital and thought I was just going to get stitched up.”

It was far more serious than that.

“I found out from the surgeon it was a lot worse than I expected… he said my season was done,” she said. “I said ‘I’m going to show him, I’m going to get back into it and finish my season.’