Video: Fortress of solitude
Olympic and world champion Adam Van Koeverden invites
The Star inside his rustic cabin in Algonquin Park. Read the full story
in the Saturday Star.
Date: September 29, 2011 - 11:23 PM - Toronto Star
Video by Randy Risling you can see more of his work on Vimeo
Adam
was Canada's lone double medalist at the 2004 Athens Olympics at the
young age of 22. Adam captured a gold medal with a victory in the K1
500m event one day after racing to a bronze in the K1 1000m. He was
chosen as Canada's Closing Ceremonies flag-bearer, and the 2004 Lou
Marsh Award winner for Canadian Athlete of the year. More recently in
August 2007, Adam became the World Champion in the K1 500m adding a
silver in the 1000m K1. In 2008 Adam carried the flag for Canada into
the bird's nest stadium at the summer Olympics in Beijing, China. Adam
aspired to be the first kayaker to ever defend a K1 500m Olympic title.
But after breaking his own world-record in the heats, Adam was beaten in
the final by his friend Ken Wallace from Australia, to take the silver
medal.
Another good friend, triathlete Simon Whitfield remarked that since he chased down a German for gold in Sydney, and Adam chased down an Australian for gold in Athens, that it seemed like there was some kind of sweet poetry in those same two countries claiming gold in their two events in China.
Adam is an athlete ambassador for
Right to Play, and the David Suzuki Foundation. He has spoken on behalf
of the World Wildlife Fund and at many schools on the importance of
healthy and active living, community involvement, and his experiences as
a Canadian Olympian. Adam graduated valedictorian of his class in 2007
from McMaster University, with a Honours Bachelor of Science degree in
Kinesiology.
Of all the doors now open to Adam, he notes the most important are the doors of schools, and sees his opportunity to affect positive change in Canada's youth as his "most rewarding obligation" as a Canadian Olympian and public speaker. Adam is currently preparing for the 2010 World Championships en route to the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, England.
Adam started kayaking at the Burloak Canoe Club in Oakville in 1995 when
he was 13 years old. Not a terribly gifted athlete, Adam started
kayaking on the advice of his mother who saw an ad in the local
newspaper for a recruitment drive which read "Future Champions Wanted".
At first the Burloak Canoe Club was just a great place to go after
school, soon it was before school too, it wasn't long before the Canoe
Club felt like home. Kayaking allowed Adam's strength as an individual
to shine, and gave him the chance to develop as an athlete.
Adam
was Canada's lone double medalist at the 2004 Athens Olympics at the
young age of 22. Adam captured a gold medal with a victory in the K1
500m event one day after racing to a bronze in the K1 1000m. He was
chosen as Canada's Closing Ceremonies flag-bearer, and the 2004 Lou
Marsh Award winner for Canadian Athlete of the year. More recently in
August 2007, Adam became the World Champion in the K1 500m adding a
silver in the 1000m K1. In 2008 Adam carried the flag for Canada into
the bird's nest stadium at the summer Olympics in Beijing, China. Adam
aspired to be the first kayaker to ever defend a K1 500m Olympic title.
But after breaking his own world-record in the heats, Adam was beaten in
the final by his friend Ken Wallace from Australia, to take the silver
medal. Another good friend, triathlete Simon Whitfield remarked that since he chased down a German for gold in Sydney, and Adam chased down an Australian for gold in Athens, that it seemed like there was some kind of sweet poetry in those same two countries claiming gold in their two events in China.
Adam is an athlete ambassador for
Right to Play, and the David Suzuki Foundation. He has spoken on behalf
of the World Wildlife Fund and at many schools on the importance of
healthy and active living, community involvement, and his experiences as
a Canadian Olympian. Adam graduated valedictorian of his class in 2007
from McMaster University, with a Honours Bachelor of Science degree in
Kinesiology. Of all the doors now open to Adam, he notes the most important are the doors of schools, and sees his opportunity to affect positive change in Canada's youth as his "most rewarding obligation" as a Canadian Olympian and public speaker. Adam is currently preparing for the 2010 World Championships en route to the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, England.
Adam is also a blogger you can follow him online at:
or on his facebook page at:
1 comments:
Full story now online from the Toronto Star: http://www.thestar.com/sports/olympics/article/1062660--kayak-champ-s-piece-of-classic-canadiana?bn=1
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