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Third-generation Olympian Local resident, Buzz product both earns family's first medal sign contracts with Toronto Rock Continued from page 18 19 · Thursday, August 9, 2012 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com "I'm not Adam van Koeverden. I can't charge out from the start," Oldershaw said of his fellow Burloak Canoe Club member and long-time training partner who took the K-1 1,000m silver medal just 15 minutes before his race. "I have to stay composed when I'm behind and then let loose. The leaders were getting way out ahead so I had to push a little early and that cost me a little bit at the end." But it landed him on the podium and fulfilled a childhood dream. Oldershaw's kid-ina-candy-store post-race reaction may well have summed up his last four years. He went into his first Olympics in 2008 as a contender for a medal, having finished third and fourth in the C-1 500m in World Cup races leading up to the Olympics. He failed to get beyond the semifinals, though, ending his Olympic experience by falling in the water as he tried to shoot his boat across the line and finishing 10th. For a while he wondered if he had squandered his opportunity. Would he have another chance to race for an Olympic medal? Would he even be able to get back? "I think every athlete has those thoughts," he said. "But after Beijing, we re-evaluated. My training was good but I wasn't in the right place mentally. The last four years, I've approached it like a kid, having fun with it. When I'm training, it's serious, but I'm enjoying it." Yesterday, his new outlook on his sport paid off in London, the same city where his grandfather began the family's rich Olympic tradition in 1948. Bert Oldershaw gave his grandson the paddle he used in that race in 2001 after Mark won the world juniors. Mark took that paddle with him to London. Oldershaw's uncles Dean (1972, 1976) and Reed (1976) also competed in the Olympics, as did Scott (1984). Despite being the first Oakville native Scott Johnston and Oakville Buzz alumnus Drew Petkoff have signed contracts with the National Lacrosse League's Toronto Rock. Petkoff played just three regular-season games for the Rock last season, returning to action with Toronto early in the campaign after fully recovering from major knee sur- gery. He had a goal and an assist in those three games, also collecting 13 loose balls. Johnston was originally signed to Toronto's practice roster as a free agent but found his way into the Rock's active roster last season. Johnston played three games for Toronto, scoring once and adding a pair of assists. www.oakvillebeaver.com STEVE RUSSELL / TORONTO STAR SWEET TASTE: Burloak Canoe Club paddler Mark Oldershaw kisses the Olympic medal he earned yesterday (Wednesday) in London. family of Canadian paddling, the Oldershaws had never won an Olympic medal. Mark said that was never a motivating factor, though. "It's really special," the 29-year-old said of his bronze. "Everyone in the family has been so supportive, but there was never a sense that anything was missing because there were no medals." Instead, Oldershaw drew his inspiration from those around him at the Burloak Canoe Club, family and non-family members alike. "Just growing up around the club and seeing the posters on the wall, being a part of a family and a club with Olympians was pretty cool and I was inspired by all of them." Now it may be time for Burloak to add a new poster to the wall.