I’ve never heard a sadder quote than Adam van Koeverden’s this morning on CBC, seconds after choking. “All I have is an apology. I’m sorry. And I hate watching people apologize after bad performance, but now I know why they do it, because there was a lot of pressure on me.van Koeverden floundered eighth of nine paddlers in the 1000m race, though he was touted as a gold or silver shoe-in by everyone who knew anything about rowing.”I have no explanation,” said van Koeverden,”I do this every day,” he said. “I do this well every day. I’m not bragging. I’m not boasting. I’m not trying to talk myself up. I do this well every day.”Every time I race, every time I line up, I’m a competitor.”(“Just not Friday. Not when it counted the most,” said Canwest’s Vicki Hall.)Poor fella. Maybe if I pat you on the back, you’ll cough up whatever you choked on. Maybe you’ll pull it together for the 500m, your specialty race. I hope so. I hate to see a grown man cry.
This article appears in Aug 21-27, 2008.
