Adam van Koeverden scores silver for Canada at the London Olympics

Canada's Adam van Koeverden has powered his way to a silver medal in Olympic kayak.

Van Koeverden, racing in his third Olympic Games, jumped out to an early lead, but was caught late by Eirik Veras Larsen, of Norway, and settled for second in the 1,000 metre race at Eton Dorney rowing basin, this morning. Max Hoff, of Germany, was third.

It's van Koeverden's fourth Olympic medal.

He won both gold and bronze in the 2004 games in Athens, and a silver in Beijing, in 2008.

"I'm happy I hung on for silver, because Max was coming on strong at the end," van Koeverden told CTV, moments after the race was over.

"I'm happy with my race, I'm happy with my race plan. Happy with the way I laid it out."

[Related: Mark Oldershaw wins canoeing bronze]

Van Koeverden says he could feel fatigue settling in during the late stages of the race, and tried to stay as upright as possible, in order to help with his breathing.

"I tried to get as much air in my lungs and keep it going. Everybody is out there trying to win the race and I feel like my race plan went well. I was looking for a good finish. I can find the silver lining in silver."

Van Koeverden gave all credit to Larsen, who put on a furious push to collar the Canadian once the race was at the three quarters mark.

"It's just that one guy was better," said van Koeverden.

"Sometimes that's just the case. I've got nothing to regret, nothing to look back on. Eirik was just super strong, today. It all goes to him."

After blasting through his heat, and the semi final on Monday, you might wonder if van Koeverden was disappointed in not hanging on for gold. He put that kind of talk to rest almost immediately, saying:

"Overall, I'm happy, I'm satisfied. I worked really hard the last couple of years."

Van Koeverden's medal briefly brought Canada's total to a total of 12. Less than twenty minutes later, his teammate from the Burloak Canoe Club in Oakville, Ontario, Mark Oldershaw, scored a bronze in the 1,000 metre canoe race.

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