"I recall the 2006 Winter Olympic Games for the pride Canadians felt as they watched Cindy Klassen sweep around the Torino Oval Lingotto and grace the podium on five separate occasions," said Ian E. Bennett, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint. "Employees of the Mint could not be more proud than to have produced this coin in Winnipeg, featuring hometown speed skating hero Cindy Klassen and we wish her the very best as she competes at the Vancouver 2010 Games next month."

Up to 22 million 25-cent coins featuring Cindy Klassen will enter into circulation today, January 5th. In a unique twist, three million of these coins were produced in brilliant colour and inserted randomly into circulation coin rolls.

The coins are available exclusively at RBC branches and participating Petro-Canada locations. RBC is a Premier National Partner and Petro-Canada is a National Partner of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Canadians can also look for these special coins in their change. Participating Petro-Canada locations will also sell sport cards, containing a uniquely painted version of the coin for $7.95.

Klassen's five medals at the Turin Games was voted by fans as the No.3 Canadian Winter Olympic Games Moment of all time - out of 10 moments - in an online contest hosted last year by the Mint and Canada's Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium. Fans voted the men's and women's hockey gold medals at Salt Lake City in 2002 as moments No.1 and No.2 respectively. The 25-cent circulation coins celebrating these moments entered into circulation on September 29, 2009 and November 17, 2009.

Designed by Burlington, Ontario artist Jason Bouwman, the moment No.3 coin features Klassen in a familiar speed skating pose on the backdrop of a maple leaf. The words 'Cindy Klassen', the year '2006' and the logo of the Canadian Olympic Committee also appear on the reverse of the coin. The three million coloured 25-cent coins, which were produced using state-of-the-art patented technology feature the maple leaf in brilliant red colour.

The Mint has also produced a special uncirculated set featuring all three coloured moments coins, available at www.mint.ca/2010. This set and other Royal Canadian Mint products are also available for purchase by calling 1-800-267-7000. Visitors to www.mint.ca/2010 can request a free coin collector card, to keep all of the circulation coins from the Vancouver 2010 collection.

Canadians can look forward to the release of the remaining 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games themed circulation coins: the 2010 Lucky Loonie coin will be launched on the first day of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games (February 12, 2010), while the 25-cent coin featuring the sport of sledge hockey will be launched during the VancouverMarch 18, 2010) 2010 Paralympic Games