Canada’s Mark Oldershaw paddles to Olympic bronze

The medals came in quick order for Canada, at the Olympic Rowing Centre at Eton Dorney, this morning.

Mark Oldershaw added a bronze medal to Canada's total at the London Olympics, merely minutes after Adam van Koeverden scored a silver in the 1,000 metre kayak race.

Oldershaw, racing the in the 1,000 metre singles canoe event, rallied from the middle of the pack with a strong final 250 metres and finished less than half a second behind silver medallist David Cal Figueroa, of Spain. Germany's Sebastian Brendel was the winner, nearly a second and a half ahead of Oldershaw.

Mark is the fifth Oldershaw to represent Canada in the Olympics over the years and the first of the clan to win a medal. His grandfather, Bert, competed in the games the last time they were held in London, in 1948. His father Scott and uncles Dean and Reed were also Olympians. Scott is Mark's coach.

Mark Oldershaw told CTV just after the race that his family name did not rest too heavily on his shoulders.

"It wasn't a weight, it was a boost," he said. "I kind of rubbed the Oldershaw name on my boat before the race, just for a little bit of extra luck and I guess it worked."

Oldershaw said he was already having a terrific time in London and that taking a medal in the family name was an added bonus.

"I was just so happy this whole week. It's been one of the best week's of my life. To cap it off with a bronze medal, it's just amazing."

Oldershaw and van Koeverden are teammates at the Burloak Canoe Club, in Oakville, Ontario.

Their performances brought Canada's total to 13 medals at the Games, 1 gold, 4 silver and 8 bronze.