Calgary, Canada - Olympic speedskating champion Cindy Klassen of Canada will sit out the entire season in order to recover from operations on both knees.

Klassen, 29, said late Monday that she wants to make sure that she is fully healthy before starting training for the 2010 home Olympics in Vancouver. She underwent arthroscopic surgery on the knees in July.

Klassen won 1,500 metres gold as well as two silvers and two bronze medals at the 2006 Olympics in Turin. (dpa)