Age: 30
Event: Kayaking, Individual
Twitter: @VanKayak

It’s hard to believe that three-time Olympic medallist Adam van Koeverden doesn’t see himself as a terribly gifted athlete. “I wore thick glasses as a kid, and I’m uncoordinated,” explains van Koeverden.

Not one for team games, van Koeverden prefers sports that cover terrain—and lots of it—including mountain biking, snowboarding and, of course, kayaking. Growing up in Oakville, Ont., he was first drawn to kayaking because he could do it solo. “It’s a technically demanding sport, like a puzzle. A perfect stroke takes a decade to perfect, and I had the willingness to spend all that time on the water being finicky about millimetres and timing.”

He’s also dedicated to his training. “I rest when I’m supposed to and go hard when I’m supposed to. My race is the toughest workout I do, and reminding myself of that keeps me pushing harder.” London 2012 will be his third Olympic Games.

His kayak results
• Olympic Champion (Gold & Bronze, 2004 Athens; Silver, 2008 Beijing)
• 2-time World Champion
• 24-time World Cup Champion
• 67-time Canadian Champion

Photo courtesy Balint Vekassy/Courtesy of CanoeKayak Canada