Cathy Priestner

Catherine Ann Priestner ( born May 27, 1956 in Windsor, Ontario ) is a former Canadian speed skater.

Already at the age of eleven began Priestner with the speed skating and celebrated at the age of twelve years, her first national success internationally, she joined at the age of fifteen first appearance.

In 1972, she took the age of sixteen in Sapporo in part for the first time at the Olympic Winter Games and placed over 500 m and 1000 m in the midfield. In the Sprint World Championships 1975 in Gothenburg Priestner won the bronze medal. A year later, in her second Olympic Games in Innsbruck in 1976, she won the silver medal over 500 meters and finished sixth over 1000 m. This makes it the first Canadian speed skater who won an Olympic medal. She was then at the closing ceremony selected as flag bearer for their team.

At just 20, she ended her career in 1976. Then Priestner worked as a commentator for the Canadian station CTV and CBC for Olympic Winter Games. At the Winter Games in 1988, 2002, 2006 and 2010, she was instrumental in the organization. 1994, it was added to the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame, the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame.