Excerpt From Athens 2004 Olympics

Silver for Premont, bronze for van Koeverden for Canada at Olympics
ATHENS (CP) - Marie-Helene Premont's legs were pounding while Adam van Koeverden's arms were burning. It was well worth it, as both Canadians ended up on an Olympic podium Friday.
Premont won a silver medal in the gruelling women's mountain bike race, finishing 59 seconds behind Gunn-Rita Dahle of Norway, who won in one hour 56 minutes 51 seconds.
It was a big-time step up for Premont, who was fifth at last year's world championship and placed second in two World Cup races this season.
"I knew I was in good form, I had a good feeling all week," said Premont, from Chateau-Richer, Que. "Everything was perfect here. I wasn't stressed at all, I didn't have any pressure."
Van Koeverden picked up a bronze medal in the K-1 1,000-metre final, narrowly holding off Australian Nathan Baggaley for the medal.
"In the last 50 metres I gave it my all to win the medal from the Australian and I felt pain," said the native of Oakville, Ont. "Now I'll try my best in the K1 500 (on Saturday)."
The 31-year-old Norwegian favourite survived chain problems in the late stages of the race.
Premont was nearly joined on the podium by Alison Sydor of North Vancouver, B.C., who was riding third for most of the race. But Germany's Sabine Spitz overtook Sydor, a silver medallist at the 1996 Games, on the fourth of five laps and took the bronze.
Premont, a first-time Olympian pumped her fists as she crossed the line, her face brimming with joy. She continued beaming on the podium, when the silver medal was placed around her neck.
"I'm really happy," said Premont. "It's so incredible, there's no words to describe it."

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