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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, August 12, 2016 | 16 Hometown heroes on the eve of Rio Olympics by Herb Garbutt Oakville Beaver Staff A dam van Koeverden surveys the scene at the Burloak Canoe Club and sounds like a guy who's already won. "Look at this," he says. "There are more kids here than ever before." Later, as he addresses the club members gathered to wish himself and Mark Oldershaw well before leaving for the Olympics, van Koeverden talks about the rare opportunity to train at the club where he rst paddled a kayak. "I was doing an important workout on Tuesday. There were four K4s and two war canoes, two K2s, some people who had probably only paddled ve times before, and three motor boats and I was going around you, and it was like `OK, I'm at the Olympics, I'm preparing,'" he said. "And I wouldn't have it any other way. It was fun. It's the greatest environment for us to be in." Van Koeverden has won a lot in his career. His four Olympic medals -- one gold, two silver, one bronze -- leave him one shy of Phil Edwards (track) and Lesley Thompson (rowing) for the most by a Canadian summer Olympian. He's also earned eight world championship medals, including a pair of golds. That count hasn't grown since his silver medal in London in 2012, but don't mistake the fact he's having fun for a guy about to embark on an Olympic victory lap. Van Koeverden hasn't raced his specialty, the K1 1,000-metre, regularly since the last Olympics. He won a bronze medal at last year's Pan Am Games despite not being 100 per cent health-wise. At the worlds, he joined Canada's K4 crew in attempt to qualify a boat for Rio, which ultimately came up short. "It's been a rough three years, some of it planned, some not," said his longtime coach, Scott Oldershaw. Adam van Koeverden | photo by Nikki Wesley ­ Oakville Beaver Skipping the K1 1000m at last year's worlds meant a longer quali cation process this year. He nailed down his spot at the Olympics with a victory at the Pan Am Continental Quali er. The 34-year-old and his coach began the preparations for Rio. "He's back in form and paddling as well as he has since London," Oldershaw said. · · · · Van Koeverden was paddling down 16 Mile Creek last week when a regular boater asked him a legitimate question. "Aren't you supposed to be in Rio?" The answer is yes and no. Yes, he will be in Rio for his fourth Olympics. But no, not yet. The fact is, apart from when he was Canada's ag bearer for the opening ceremonies in Beijing, he's never taken part in the opening ceremonies. With canoe/kayak in the second week of the Olympic schedule, the Canadian team has always been training in Europe when the athletes march into the Olympic stadium. Van Koeverden recently returned from ve weeks in Europe, but without time zones to contend with for Brazil, it afforded him the chance to train at Burloak until he left for Rio (Aug. 8). Van Koeverden won't enter the race as the favourite, but then with the exception of Beijing where he went in having swept all six World Cup races that year, he rarely has. Oldershaw said in London there were three or four paddlers vying to see what colour of medal they would come home with. Now, he says with younger paddlers breaking through, there are six or seven with a legitimate shot at the podium. "At this stage, (medals are) a bit less of a measure of success. It's still the primary goal and I would never say they are not there to win," he said. "But they (van Koeverden and Mark Oldershaw) could have a perfect race and not be on the podium, or they could walk away and maybe have a hunk of medal to bring home." Twelve years ago in Athens, van Koeverden was hellbent on proving he was the best. Now, going into Rio, his focus is on doing his best. "I used to be crazy about winning. I still want to win, but I also care about how kids get to experience this sport," he said. "Maybe this whole view just took 20 years to achieve." see Local on p.17 ASK ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS FOR 3-6 YEAR OLDS! Boots Kids Winter Technical and creative excellence in a warm and friendly environment for students age 3 to adult. Academy Director: Heidi Knapp Fellow and Examiner with The Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing EMILLE S H Classical Ballet · Modern Theatre Dance/Jazz Tap · Musical Theatre & Acting · Hip Hop on $ sale! #1 SHOE STORE #1 CHILDREN'S Diamond Award SHOE STORE 2016 *Discontinued Models Only 905-338-0210 www.graceacademy.ca Factory Shoe outlet 2394 FAIRVIEW STREET, BURLINGTON eMIlle ShoeS BurlINGtoN 75 99 Reg $94.99 FACTORY S ES H O th OUTLET OE 785 Pacific Rd., Unit 1, Oakville Monday-Friday 9am to 9pm Saturday 9am to 6pm Sunday 10am to 6pm hourS: 905-632-9688 www.factoryshoeoutlet.ca VERSARY ANNI