Paul Friesen

TURIN -- His wife had collapsed in pain, seconds after crossing the finish line in first place, an Olympic champion.

As she lay next to the track at the Oval Lingotto, a heaving lump of agony dressed in Canadian red and white, Peter Guzman admits he wasn't exactly celebrating.

"When I saw her lying on the ice, I was concerned," Guzman, husband of Clara Hughes, said minutes after his speed-skating spouse struck gold in the women's 5,000 metres.

"She can push herself so hard ... she doesn't leave anything on the ice. I was a little worried, yeah."

It turns out Guzman had nothing to worry about -- and plenty to celebrate.

The 33-year-old Hughes simply had collapsed from exhaustion after the race of her life, a race that capped two decades of training, covering two Summer and two Winter Olympic Games.

Hughes says it was special, too, having her husband in the stands, sharing her finest hour as an Olympian.

"He's a rock. He has made me a better person" Hughes said.

Hughes' career medal total is now five: Two bronze from cycling in 1996, a bronze from skating at Salt Lake City, a silver in the team pursuit event here -- and, now, the ultimate prize.

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