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Sports Oakville Beaver By Herb Garbutt OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 255) Fax 905-337-5567 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2007 37 Back on the horse Gymnast Brown resumes international medal hunt pete at a high level," Brown said. "To be able to come out with two medals was incredible." Although practising her routines was out of Coming off her most successful year in the the question while she nursed her heel, Brown sport, gymnastics had suddenly become a real continued to go to the gym every day, working out three hours to maintain strength and condipain for Alyssa Brown. Shortly after winning two medals at the tioning. She was finally cleared to resume full Commonwealth Games and competing in her first training in April. "Six weeks before nationals, she world championships, Brown found "It was hard at the got the go-ahead from the doctor," herself battling a mysteriously sore said Alex Bard, her coach at heel that prevented her from stand- beginning because Gymnastics Mississauga. "She ing, much less competing. Brown no one could figure worked really hard and it showed up had dealt with injuries before -- she out what was in the results." broke her ankle five years ago -- but wrong. You would Though the 18-year-old wasn't this one was particularly frustrating. do what the doctor back to peak form for nationals, she "It was hard at the beginning scaled back her routines but still because no one could figure out said, but it didn't managed to finish sixth all-around. what was wrong," she said. "You get any better." As her heel continues to improve, would do what the doctor said, but it Alyssa Brown, on her Brown said she still is not back to didn't get any better." full strength on vault and floor. Brown was eventually diagnosed recent injury However, on the uneven bars, with bursitis behind her Achilles tendon. Making matters worse was the fact that Brown actually increased her degree of difficulty, adding a more difficult mount. there was no treatment other than rest. Getting back up to speed in the other events Fast forward six months, Brown finished sixth overall at the national championships and three will be Brown's focus as she prepares for next weeks later followed that up with two medals -- a month's Canadian team trials and the upcoming team silver and another silver on the uneven bars world championships in Germany. "She should be a very strong contender for the -- at an international competition in Brazil. "It felt amazing. I was a little nervous going in world championships," Bard said. "She did a because I had to prove myself that I could com- super job in Brazil." FINE FORM: Local gymnast Alyssa Brown, pictured performing on the uneven bars, has returned to the international competitive scene after recovering from bursitis behind her Achilles tendon. The 18year-old won two silver medals, one on the uneven bars and the other in team competition, at an international meet in Brazil last weekend, following a sixth-overall finish at last month's national championships. Burloak coach charged with readying national team for Olympics The coach of two of Canada's top paddlers will now be sharing his expertise with the rest of the country's Olympic hopefuls. Burloak Canoe Club head coach Scott Oldershaw, currently the head canoe/kayak coach for Ontario, will assume the job as national team coach in April as Canada gears up for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China. Oldershaw coaches Oakville's Adam van Koeverden, who will be defending his Olympic kayaking title in Beijing, as well as his own son Mark, who, with a successful run on the World Cup circuit, has established himself as a medal hopeful. "Adam and Mark have the potential to be on the podium (at the Olympics) so having him on board is good for them," said Graham Barton, high performance director for CanoeKayak Canada. "He's also worked with some of the crews who are in that same ball park and having him will be invaluable for these athletes." Oldershaw said the new position will allow him to focus on the long-term goals of the Scott Oldershaw team as well as the short-term objectives. "It's a different challenge for me," he said. "It's a great opportunity." Barton said many factors went into Oldershaw's appointment -- his experience as both an athlete and coach, his laid-back approach and his track record of success at the highest levels of the sport. "We have lots of meetings about our next plan, changes we might want to make and we encourage ideas to make things better, including from our coaches," said Barton. "He'll bring good ideas to the table." Oldershaw himself was a member of the national team for 16 years, competing at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles as well as at 12 world championships. He's been the head coach at Burloak since 1990 and led the club to three national titles. In 2003, he received the Petro-Canada Coaching Excellence Award and was a coach of the year finalist at the Canadian Sport Awards in 2005. Oldershaw, 53, has worked with the national program on and off for the last 18 years, including coaching the team prior to the 1996 Olympics. He has also been acting as a regional national development team coach. Because of his work with his son and van Koeverden on the international scene, Oldershaw said there will be little adjustment in the new role. "I basically know all the athletes so it isn't going to be a real big deal getting into the job," he said. "It's a continuation of what I'm doing but I'll be able to concentrate on it without a lot of other things to worry about. I'll be able to focus in on the athletes. I'll be more relaxed and focused and, in return, the athletes should be, too." -- Herb Garbutt O BO NO LI K N E JOIN US FOR LADIES NIGHT Every Monday Starting at 5pm 9 Holes & a Sumptuous Dinner $44.95 · Monday to Thursday · Early Bird (Weekdays before 8:30am) · Twilight (Everyday after 4pm) · Friday to Sunday & Holidays $68 $50 $50 $78