02:51Germany: 'Grandma' speed skater to become oldest woman ever to compete at Winter Olympics
The self-proclaimed 'grandma' of competitive speed skating, 49-year-old Claudia Pechstein shared her excitement from Munich on Friday, about becoming the oldest woman ever to participate at a Winter Olympics.
The five-time Olympic champion will compete for Germany at this year’s Beijing Games. She will take part in the mass start, an event that includes up to 24 skaters racing 16 laps simultaneously.
Pechstein, who has called herself a ‘grandma’ in comparison to her rivals, many of whom weren’t even born when she won her first Olympic medal in 1992, said she was 'so proud' of her achievements.
The veteran, who will turn 50 on February 22, two days after the closing ceremony in Beijing, is also set to become the second person - and only woman - to compete in eight Winter Games.
02:51Mandatory credit: Team Deutschland
The self-proclaimed 'grandma' of competitive speed skating, 49-year-old Claudia Pechstein shared her excitement from Munich on Friday, about becoming the oldest woman ever to participate at a Winter Olympics.
The five-time Olympic champion will compete for Germany at this year’s Beijing Games. She will take part in the mass start, an event that includes up to 24 skaters racing 16 laps simultaneously.
Pechstein, who has called herself a ‘grandma’ in comparison to her rivals, many of whom weren’t even born when she won her first Olympic medal in 1992, said she was 'so proud' of her achievements.
The veteran, who will turn 50 on February 22, two days after the closing ceremony in Beijing, is also set to become the second person - and only woman - to compete in eight Winter Games.