Oakville kayaker van Koeverden inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame
Published May 13, 2022 at 4:22 pm
Oakville’s Adam van Koeverden is one of three Olympians named among the class of 2022 for Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame.
The four-time Olympian kayaker and quadruple Olympic medallist is being inducted in the Athlete Category.
Other Olympians also being inducted this year include women’s hockey player Haley Wickenheiser and President of the Canadian Olympic Committee Tricia Smith.
This year’s Class of 2022 will also include the induction of Olympic broadcaster Brian Williams, soccer player Dwayne De Rosario, Mississauga lacrosse star John Tavares and Paralympic swimmer Tim McIsaac.
“Pretty stoked today,” said van Koeverden, now the Liberal MP for Milton, in a tweet after learning of his induction.
“The sport of kayaking gave me something to do every day, kept me out of trouble when I was young, and it also created an awesome platform and career,” said van Koeverden, who grew up in North Oakville.
Videos
Pretty stoked today gotta say!!
❤️🇨🇦🤠 https://t.co/Nx5j6zRYo0— Adam van Koeverden (@vankayak) May 12, 2022
A sprint kayaker, van Koeverden won K-1 500m gold and K-1 1000m bronze in his Olympic debut at Athens 2004, earning him the honour of being Canada’s Closing Ceremony flag bearer.
At the 2008 Beijing Games, he would carry the Canadian flag into the Opening Ceremony and go on to win a silver medal in the K-1 500m.
When that even was removed from the Olympics, the local athlete focused on the K-1 1000m and won another silver medal at London 2012.
He would end his Olympic career after Rio 2016.
Outside of the Olympic Games, van Koeverden won eight medals at the ICF World Championships, including two golds.
– With files from Canadian Press
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