The long-awaited memoir by Canada's most celebrated Olympian and advocate for mental health.
About the Author: Six-time Olympic medalist Clara Hughes became the only athlete to win multiple medals in both the Summer and Winter Games.
240 Pages
Biography + Autobiography, Sports
Description
Book Synopsis
The long-awaited memoir by Canada's most celebrated Olympian and advocate for mental health. From one of Canada's most decorated Olympians comes a raw but life-affirming story of one woman's struggle with depression. In 2006, when Clara Hughes stepped onto the Olympic podium in Torino, Italy, she became the first and only athlete ever to win multiple medals in both Summer and Winter Games. Four years later, she was proud to carry the Canadian flag at the head of the Canadian team as they participated in the opening ceremony of the Vancouver Olympic Winter Games. But there's another story behind her celebrated career as an athlete, behind her signature billboard smile. While most professional athletes devote their entire lives to training, Clara spent her teenage years using drugs and drinking to escape the stifling home life her alcoholic father had created in Elmwood, Winnipeg. She was headed nowhere fast when, at sixteen, she watched transfixed in her living room as gold medal speed skater Gaétan Boucher effortlessly raced in the 1988 Calgary Olympics. Dreaming of one day competing herself, Clara channeled her anger, frustration, and raw ambition into the endurance sports of speed skating and cycling. By 2010, she had become a six-time Olympic medalist. But after more than a decade in the gruelling world of professional sports that stripped away her confidence and bruised her body, Clara began to realize that her physical extremes, her emotional setbacks, and her partying habits were masking a severe depression. After winning bronze in the last speed skating race of her career, she decided to retire from that sport, determined to repair herself. She has emerged as one of our most committed humanitarians, advocating for a variety of social causes both in Canada and around the world. In 2010, she became national spokesperson for Bell Canada's Let's Talk campaign in support of mental health awareness, using her Olympic standing to share the positive message of the power of forgiveness. Told with honesty and passion, Open Heart, Open Mind is Clara's personal journey through physical and mental pain to a life where love and understanding can thrive. This revelatory and inspiring story will touch the hearts of all Canadians.
Review Quotes
"An amazing athlete, a great person, and a wonderful motivating example for all!"
About the Author
Six-time Olympic medalist Clara Hughes became the only athlete to win multiple medals in both the Summer and Winter Games. She is a member of the Order of Manitoba and an officer of the Order of Canada, has received a star on Canada's Walk of Fame, and was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame. Clara was Canada's flag bearer for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. She was the founding spokesperson for Bell Canada's Let's Talk initiative, a campaign dedicated to breaking down the stigma of mental health. In 2014, she was awarded the Meritorious Service Cross, which recognizes those whose outstanding personal commitment has brought honour to Canada. In 2022, she was named an Olympian for Life in recognition of her making the world a better place by promoting the Olympic Values at every stage of her life. Clara lives with her husband, Peter, on Vancouver Island, and continues to enjoy bike touring and hiking.
Dimensions (Overall): 8.3 Inches (H) x 5.5 Inches (W) x .8 Inches (D)
Weight: .55 Pounds
Suggested Age: 22 Years and Up
Number of Pages: 240
Genre: Biography + Autobiography
Sub-Genre: Sports
Publisher: Touchstone Books
Format: Paperback
Author: Clara Hughes
Language: English
Street Date: January 3, 2017
TCIN: 88183699
UPC: 9781476756998
Item Number (DPCI): 247-33-9742
Origin: Made in the USA or Imported
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Shipping details
Estimated ship dimensions: 0.8 inches length x 5.5 inches width x 8.3 inches height
Estimated ship weight: 0.55 pounds
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