IOC president Jacques Rogge proclaimed Cindy Klassen the woman of the Torino Games. (Dusan Vranic/Canadian Press)
2006 Year in Review
Athlete of the Year: Cindy Klassen
Canada's golden girl in a class of her own
By Jesse Campigotto, CBC Sports
2006 will go down as a banner year for Canadian athletics, and an exceedingly challenging one for those charged with recognizing a single standout performer. Should the honour go to the surprise Olympic champion? The history-making CFL sack master? The NHL's brightest young star? What about one from Canada's triumvirate of big-league MVPs?
Worthy candidates, all, but in the end CBC Sports Online selects speed skating queen Cindy Klassen as its Canadian athlete of the year.
2006 will, after all, be remembered as the year in which Canada captured a record 24 Olympic medals. And no Canuck did more for the cause in Turin than Klassen: The 26-year-old Winnipegger rounded up a national-record five medals.
"The Games couldn't have gone any better," a typically effervescent Klassen said after her efforts in carrying Team Canada won her the honour of carrying the flag at the closing ceremonies. "I'm so happy with how I did and also with how well my teammates did."
Heading into the Torino Games, Klassen had every right to be cocksure amid a fabulous World Cup season that would eventually see her set nine world records and cruise to the all-round title.
But, in classic Canadian fashion, Klassen arrived at Oval Lingotto with a quiet confidence, content to let flashier foes including Germany's Anni Friesinger steal the spotlight. By the end, Klassen outshone them all, winning gold in the 1,500 metres, silver in the 1,000 and team pursuit and bronze in the 3,000 and 5,000.
Added to the bronze she captured at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games, Klassen's five-medal haul in Turin earned her the title of most decorated Canadian Olympian of all time.
As if her on-ice feats didn't endear her enough to everyone watching back home, Canada's golden girl savoured her achievements with a seemingly non-stop smile on her face and a charmingly hoser-ish twang in her voice.
"This is awesome, it's awesome for Canada," Klassen gushed to CBC Sports after she and teammate Kristina Groves finished 1-2 in the 1,500.
And, as an historic year in Canadian sport comes to a close, just as awesome to remember.
RUNNERS-UPJustin Morneau powered the upstart Twins to a diviison title. (Ann Heisenfelt/Associated Press)
Justin Morneau
Why he could've won: The 25-year-old first baseman from Burnaby, B.C. became the first Canadian to capture the American League Most Valuable Player award after his precocious production (.321 average, 34 homers, 130 RBIs) propelled the plucky Twins to a surprise division title. Morneau's win gave Canada an unprecedented three reigning MVPs in the four major sports.
Why he didn't: Morneau batted brilliantly in the playoffs (.417 average, two homers), but the Twins flopped in a first-round sweep to Oakland, denying their big slugger a shot at a résumé-polishing World Series title. Sure, the MVP is impressive, but the subjective praise of baseball writers just doesn't carry the same lustre as a championship ring.
Steve Nash
Why he could've won: Nash's second straight NBA MVP award put him in rarefied company: among point guards, Magic Johnson is the only other man to win two in a row. The pride of Victoria now has two more Maurice Podoloff trophies than any other Canadian, and one more than Hall of Famers Bob Cousy, Julius Erving, Bill Walton and Charles Barkley.
Why he didn't: CBC's 2005 athlete of the year once again failed to lift Phoenix to the promised land, and the second of his MVP awards may have been even more dubious than the first. Voters seemed to favour the diminutive point guard's aw-shucks demeanour over the eye-popping brilliance of more flamboyant stars like Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.
Joe Thornton led the NHL with 125 points last season. (Phil McCarten/Associated Press)
Joe Thornton
Why he could've won: After being jettisoned by Boston for cents on the dollar, all the master playmaker did in San Jose was win the NHL scoring title with a career-high 125 points, make unheralded linemate Jonathan Cheechoo into the league's top goal-scorer, turn the floundering Sharks into championship contenders, and capture the Hart Trophy as MVP.
Why he didn't: Failing to answer the knock that dogged him in Boston, Thornton performed unevenly in the playoffs as the Sharks were gutted by the Oilers in the second round. Judging a player by his team's postseason record may be harsh, but those are the breaks when you're in an athlete-of-the-year race against an Olympic champion who shone brightest on the world's biggest stage.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
Brad Gushue & Russ Howard:
Split skip duties at Torino Olympics to bring Canada its first men's curling gold
Chandra Crawford:
Sweet-smiling youngster's surprise cross-country gold tempered bitterness of men's hockey ouster later that day
Sidney Crosby:
Prize of '05 draft grew into bona fide NHL superstar in '06 with 105 points in first 71 games of calendar year
Jennifer Heil:
World's best moguls skier jump-started Canada's record medal haul in Turin with gold on Day Two
Brent Johnson:
Lions' league-best 16 sacks earned him unprecedented sweep of CFL's outstanding Canadian and defensive player honours
Christine Sinclair:
Co-led W-league champion Vancouver in scoring, carried Canada to berth in next year's World Cup
John Grant Jr:
The top gun on Canada's first world championship lacrosse team in 28 years.
