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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, July 30, 2015 | 4 Capitalizing on a second chance Sixteen years after forgettable Pan Am Games experience, Dan Lewis rewards himself and his supporters with bronze by Herb Garbutt Oakville Beaver Staff Oakville native Dan Lewis celebrates a point during Sunday's Pan Am Games men's volleyball bronze-medal match in Toronto. The 39-year-old libero helped Canada defeat Puerto Rico 25-11, 25-12, 23-25, 25-18 and salvage a medal two days afer a disappointing semifinal loss to Argentina. | photo by Graham Paine -- Oakville Beaver -- @Halton_Photog Our Services Earn Credit from Physiotherapy 20% · Massage · Acupuncture · Reflexology · Chinese Massage · Fertility Acupuncture · Physiotherapy · · · · When Canada lost a heartbreaking Pan Am Games men's volleyball semifinal to Argentina Friday, it was a tough pill to swallow for the home team that had received such outstanding support from its fans. "We're going to get a bronze medal and who cares?" Canada's Gord Perrin told reporters after the game. "It means nothing." Dan Lewis admitted he would lose some sleep over letting a chance at the gold medal slip away, but a bronze meaning nothing? He wasn't buying it. The T.A. Blakelock high school grad has had a decorated career in Europe, winning four Slovenian championships and two Polish championships, helping several of his clubs reach the Champions League. If anyone had a reason to dismiss a bronze, it was Lewis. But after Canada's four-set victory over Puerto Rico in Sunday's bronze-medal match in Toronto, Lewis showed just how much the medal meant to him. Moments after the bronze medal was hung around his neck, he turned and pointed to his family in the crowd. "Nothing beats something like this where you have 5,000 fans just screaming and supporting you and you can look up in the crowd after and say `Hey you've been there the whole time. Thank you so much.'" Lewis said. "Especially my mom and dad, they've supported me for 20 years and I just love them to death." For Lewis, the bronze-medal match was a second chance to reward those who stood by him as he's bounced from France to Poland to Slovenia to pursue his career. His wife Jessica and his kids William and Naomi, who have travelled Europe with him. His older brother Derek, who he watched play volleyball before him. His sister, Kelly, and his parents, Pat and Joe, who have always been there for him. It meant something to them. So it meant something to him. Finished seventh at Winnipeg 1999 Sunday's bronze-medal game wasn't just a second chance to end the tournament with a victory and bring home a medal. For Lewis, it was a second chance to have a positive Pan Am Games experience. It was 16 years ago that Lewis competed in the Pan Am Games, also on home soil in Winnipeg. He played beach volleyball, but it was hardly something he cared to remember or appreciated at the time. see Veteran on p.7 $ 1395 Abbeywood Drive, Unit 14, Oakville Open 7 days a week 100 Off Because family matters Let us take care of you Oakview Funeral Home has been serving the Oakville community for over 30 years. We are proud community supporters and will assist your family in creating a highly personalized service to suit your taste and budget. Oakview Funeral Home serves one family at a time and offers competitive prices and superior service. A pair of Prescription Glasses or Sunglasses Get your FREE Planning Kit! Call Dawn Spencer today: 905-842-2252 Look for us on Facebook Visit www.oakviewfuneral.ca for a virtual tour of our funeral home. 92 Dunn Street Downtown oakville lebeauoptical@gmail.com www. lebeauoptical.com by Arbor Memorial 56 Lakeshore Road, W., Oakville Arbor Memorial Inc. Oakview Funeral Home Family Owned. Proudly Canadian. 905-845-3621