Medals for Oldershaw, Van Koeverden highlight Day 12.
Fellow Canadian Olympic paddler Hugues poses with Oakville's Adam van Koeverden, left, and Burlington's Mark Oldershaw, right shortly after they won Olympic medals.
With members of their home club cheering them on back home, Adam van Koeverden and Mark Oldershaw opened Day 12 of the Olympics with a bang.
First it was Adam van Koeverden. Already with three Olympic medals to his credit, the Oakville kayaker charged out to take the early. Though he was caught in the last 100 metres, he earned the silver medal, making him Canada’s most decorated Olympic kayaker.
Just 15 minutes later, fellow Burloak Canoe Club member Mark Oldershaw came back from fifth at the midway point to earn a bronze medal.
While congratulatory messages poured in throughout the day, some of the local athletes who are finished competing took advantage of the opportunity to watch some other sports. Others, like Canadian women’s soccer team members Diana Matheson and Melanie Booth got ready for a big day ahead.
Here’s how the day unfolded on Twitter:
Aug 8, 1:08 a.m. @LarryCainCanoe
This is the day! Lets go Adam Vank and Mark O! — Larry Cain
Aug 8, 2:52 a.m. @vankayak
Beautiful day for a regatta. If this isn't nice, I don't know what is. #GoCanada — Adam van Koeverden
Aug 8, 4:40 a.m. @simonwhitfield
Go @vankayak !!!!!!!!!!!! — Simon Whitfield
Aug 8, 4:49 a.m. @melbooth13
Big congrats to @vankayak for that silver medal race! You definitely gave your everything! — Melanie Booth
Aug 8, 4:58 a.m. @simonwhitfield
Go @markoldershaw !!!!!!!!!!!!! — Simon Whitfield
Aug 8, 5:02 a.m. @mehakkayakTO
Perfectly executed race plan by Mark! Bronze medal! So impressive. #goCanada #goMark — Chris Mehak
Aug. 8, 5:04 a.m. @RClarke13
Great races boys! @vankayak @MarkOldershaw. Repping burloak and Canada! Enjoy it! — Rob Clarke
Aug 8, 5:07 a.m. @Kara_Lang
Congratulations to @vankayak on the Silver medal! Well done! — Kara Lang
Aug 8, 5:23 a.m. @OlKevOne
Scott Oldershaw does the best post race interviews
Aug 8, 5:53 a.m. @RClarke13
Wow! @MarkOldershaw trending worldwide!! #gocanada — Rob Clarke
Aug 8, 6:32 a.m. @CDNOlympicTeam
“I've been dreaming about this since I was a little kid.” - @MarkOldershaw after winning bronze in the C-1 1000m race. — Canadian Olympic Team
Aug 8, 7:19 a.m. @LarryCainCanoe
Incedible emtional morning ar Eton Dorney. Congrats to @vankayak silver K1 1000 + @markoldershaw bronze C11000 #GoCanada — Larry Cain
Aug 8, 7:21 a.m. @LarryCainCanoe
Big shout out to everyone at Burloak Canoe Club! Thx for cheering on the boysyou guys looked awesome on TV. Go train for Nations! — Larry Cain
Aug 8, 7:32 a.m. @TravisGerrits
Big congrats to @vankayak on his silver!!! Way to represent — Travis Gerrits
Aug 8, 7:58 a.m. @simonwhitfield
Broken collarbone confirm. Small break, not displaced but Mark and Adam won medals so I'm smiling. Off to the park. — Simon Whitfield
Aug 8, 8:15 a.m. @melbooth13
Big big congrats to @MarkOldershaw on getting that bronze this morning! The legacy that is the Oldershaw fam has finally got their medal! — Simon Whitfield
Aug 8, 8:35 a.m. @MarkOldershaw
Oh happy day!!! — Mark Oldershaw
Aug 8, 8:37 a.m. @MarkOldershaw
I'm literally crying reading all your messages, thank you all so much for the support, I couldn't have done it without you! Go Canada! — Mark Oldershaw
Aug 8, 8:59 a.m. @vankayak
Silver Medal! I'm very happy, thanks for the kind words & encouragement! Congrats to my homeboy @MarkOldershaw on Bronze. 2 for Burloak! — Adam van Koeverden
Aug 8, 9:10 a.m. @alannabl
SO Happy and Proud of our Canadian, Burloak Boys! — Alanna Bray-Lougheed
Aug 8, 9:25 a.m. @huguesfournel
SOOO PROUD of these guys! Childhood hero turned into great friends truned into super hero @vankayak @MarkOldershaw — Hughes FOurnel
Aug 8, 9:29 a.m. @rcochrane2012
The hero's of the day. Will never forget this moment. @vankayak @MarkOldershaw @CanoeKayakCAN @CDNOlympicTeam — Ryan Cochrane
Aug 8, 9:41 a.m. @Dalton_McGinty
Great morning for Ontarians on the water at #London2012. Congrats to @vankayak on your silver & @MarkOldershaw on your bronze!
Aug 8, 10:42 a.m. @DougCsima
Watching equestrian jumping individual finals at Greenwich Park. Another great venue. But the best horse isn't competing. RIP Hickstead
Aug 8, 10:45 a.m. @dblaze1818
Loyola alumni @vankayak wins silver! #represent — Dan Blazekovic
Aug 8, 10:50 a.m. @vankayak
Big congrats to @evlars from Norway, our K1 1000m Olympic Champion. Always a pleasure to be on the podium with you my friend!
Aug 8, 1:47 p.m. @teravb
Sitting in the 7th row at athletics! CRAZY COOL! #london2012
12:40 p.m. @CDNOlympicMoose
Well done @vankayak & @markoldershaw! Watching you receive your medals gave me major Moosebumps! #GiveYourEverything — Canadian Moose
Aug 8, 3:36 p.m. @teravb
Just watched usain bolts 200! Wowzaaaa
Aug. 8, 5:16 p.m. @melbooth13
Tomorrows the day.HUGE clash with France for the bronze.Early wake up for all back home, but we'll give our everything to make it worth it!
Aug. 8, 6:43 p.m. @LarryCainCanoe
Canada House party for @vankayak + @markoldershaw. Good times. Nice to see ecognition for coach Scott Oldershaw a quiet coaching genius
Aug 8, 10:40 p.m. @BF4HeadStrong
@MarkOldershaw Made Canadian History and Oldershaw History #YourTheMan #Carly Aug 8, RaePumpUp