Evan,

>>She is an extraordinary good sportswoman. From an interview with a dutch reporter she really seems a very pleasant and sympathetic girl (as all canadians I've seen though). Canada certainly is the big rising nation in ice speed skating together with the US (men).
>>
>>As I said in a former thread, Ice speed skating gains populatiry and there is a lot more internation competition than the last decades. The italian (Fabris), the canadian (women) and the US (men) really gained ground at the costs of Dutch, Norwegeans (no single medal) and Germans.
>>
>>Oh well, it will be interesting to see how this all develops for next winter olympics in Vancouver.
>>
>>Walter,

>Given the last name and that fact that she's mennonite, makes me think her family has a Dutch heritage.

Could well be. Klaasen is a dutch surname, but I think it could be german as well.

Walter,