Oldershaw thinks he could surprise with a medal
Paddling a canoe RIO DE JANEIRO has long been a solitary athletic pursuit for Mark Oldershaw, but never more than this year.
The 33-year-old from Burlington, Ont., is a contender to add to the bronze medal he won in the men’s C-1, 1,000 metres in London four years ago — continuing the tradition of paddling dating back to his grandfather, Bert.
But when he dips the paddle in Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas for a preliminary heat on Monday morning, he will do so as Canada’s only canoeist in the canoe/kayak competition at these Olympics.
“I want to make sure that our team is on track,” Oldershaw said. “It’s a little disappointing that I’m the only canoeist here for Canada. We had guys ... so close to making it. Hopefully I can help bring up the level in Canada.”
A strong Olympics would certainly send an encouraging message. And despite a tumultuous year in which he has had a baby — Josephine, with wife and former Olympian Annamay Pierse — and struggled at the world championships, Oldershaw believes he has it in him.
“I feel like I’m a bit of a dark horse,” said Oldershaw, whose father Scott is the head coach of the Canadian team. “It’s tough to gauge because of what happened last year at the world championships when I was ninth and it was not in any way my best race. I have the confidence and the experience from London and 16 years at this level.”
That confidence was buoyed this summer in training with his father and former Canadian Olympian, Larry Cain.
“We were finding it every day on the water,” Oldershaw said. “I was nailing it every day.
“I feel like I’m paddling the best that I ever have. I could definitely make a move and surprise some people.”