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36 Sports Oakville Beaver www.aplushomes.ca Adam Campbell Broker of Record 905-844-4444 B R O K E R A G E I N D E P E N D E N T LY O W N E D A N D O P E R AT E D SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 255) Fax 905-337-5567 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2008 Van Koeverden rebounds for silver By Herb Garbutt OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF For years, Adam van Koeverden has tested his physical limits. In describing the thoughts and feelings of racing against the world's best, the 26year-old told the Toronto Star, "As far as pain goes, you've got an immediate choice. Do I choose to keep pushing it or do I choose to relent and give in to my body's reaction to working too hard?" It's that ability to keep pushing that made him an Olympic champion and one of the world's best kayakers. And while he's faced that physical question in almost every race he's ever competed in on the world stage, never had his mental limits been tested as much as they were Saturday in Beijing, China. Coming off a race that pushed him down to a low point he had never reached before, with his mind racing, keeping him awake throughout the night, van Koeverden was now facing a similar question in his head -- do I choose to keep pushing or do I relent to self-doubt? Van Koeverden answered the question emphatically, roaring out to a boat-length lead in the K-1 500-metre final. Though he was caught in the final metres by Australia's Ken Wallace, who edged him by less than four-tenths of a second, the Burloak Canoe Club member had delivered an Olympic silver medal under the most trying circumstances of his career. "It wasn't my best regatta, I didn't race as well as I know I can or as well as I've proven I can," van Koeverden said. "I'm thankful for the fact that I was able to win the silver and that, even on not my best day, I was able to RICHARD LAUTENS / TORONTO STAR SWEET SILVER: Adam van Koeverden pumps his fist after finishing second in the Olympic kayaking singles 500-metre race Saturday in China. get on the Olympic podium." As if the gods had not played with his mind enough, the scoring clock initially showed Great Britain's Tim Brabants winning silver. "I was pretty excited, but then I saw Tim with the silver and it sucks when you've crossed the line thinking you've beat someone," van Koeverden said. When the final results corrected the error moments later, van Koeverden thrust his fist into the air. Watching van Koeverden smile as he received his medal, Burloak Canoe Club head coach Adam Oldershaw said, "He should be happy. On any given day, any one of those guys could be standing on the podium. He's not there because there's nobody to challenge him. These other guys are fast. It's not a cakewalk." That's a fact that van Koeverden's success can sometimes mask. Just four days before winning his third Olympic medal, van See Expectations page 39 Locals sixth in masters lacrosse CLOSE QUARTERS: Oakville's Dave Johnston (left) and Whitby's Steve Skene collide as they try to secure the ball during last weekend's Ontario Masters Lacrosse Provincial Championships at Glen Abbey Recreation Centre. Oakville posted a 1-3 mark in the senior (35-andover) division to place sixth overall. CHRIS KORNACKI / OAKVILLE BEAVER By Adam Johnston SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Oakville was a hub of lacrosse action this past weekend as it played host to the Ontario Masters Lacrosse Provincial Championships. The tournament -- comprised of a junior division (age 23 - 34) and a senior division (age 35 and over) -- attracted 23 teams from across the province. The host team, which competed in the senior division, felt the effects of fielding one of the older squads in the tournament. Despite some close matches, Oakville finished sixth out of the 11 teams competing in the senior division. "Our team played so-so," said Oakville's Warren DiMarco. "It wasn't the result that we wanted, but our team is getting old. A lot of the teams are younger. We're in a 35-andolder division and our average age is probably closer to 47 or 48, so it makes it harder (to compete)." Oakville opened the tournament with an 1110 loss to Halton Hills on Friday. Oakville jumped out to a 9-3 lead by the end of the second period, but was outscored 8-1 in the third frame -- including the winner in the final minute of play. Saturday's games saw Oakville drop a 6-5 overtime decision to Whitby in the morning before rallying to beat Durham 10-3 in the afternoon. Oakville finished round-robin play with a 1-2 record and advanced to the C-level championship, where it dropped a 6-3 decision to Toronto Beaches. Brampton downed Owen Sound 7-5 to capture the Senior A championship. In the junior division, Welland upset Whitby 6-5 in the final to secure the Junior A championship. Organizers and players alike were pleased with the results of the tournament, which also included social and fundraising initiatives. "It was a really good tournament; everyone was really happy," said DiMarco. "All the teams were very happy and excited. All the facilities were great." The tournament was based out of Glen Abbey Recreation Centre, with some games played at Maplegrove Arena.