De La Salle alumnus strikes gold in Rio

Luckily for Dan Casaca, his Pan Am Games performance was a much better experience than his trip home.

The De La Salle College alumnus captured rowing gold with partner Chris Jarvis of St. Catharines in the men’s coxless pair on July 17. Other than competing in the under-23 world championships last year, the Pan Am Games in Rio de Janeiro was Casaca’s first major international regatta.

"We were selected to go only a week before the Games, so it was such a relief (to win) because we had been training so hard," said the 23-year-old on the phone from Victoria, where he is in training. "This is a good stepping stone for my progress as a rower."

But getting back to Canada might have been more challenging than competing against tough American, Brazilian and Cuban teams.

Casaca said a potential strike was hampering services at Rio’s international airport, so it was little surprise when a 10 p.m. flight was delayed four hours before eventually being cancelled. A 10 a.m. flight the next day was also delayed before Casaca finally made his way to Miami.

After spending the night, Casaca arrived in Victoria on July 24.

"It was a complete nightmare," said Casaca, who is a member of the Don Rowing Club in Mississauga.

Other than that, Casaca said his Pan Am experience was a positive one, especially his relationship with Jarvis. The 26-year-old was part of the Canadian squad in Athens three years ago, so Casaca had a teacher in the boat with him at all times.

"(Jarvis) helped my confidence level a lot and his experience definitely helps my rowing," said Casaca, who started rowing only five years ago after seeing members of the Argonaut Rowing Club on the water on his way to school. "When he talks, I listen more attentively because he has been through it all and has all that international experience."

The duo had no idea what to expect heading into Rio, considering they were a relatively new team and had not seen any of the other nations compete, said Casaca. But when it came time to perform, the Canadians cruised to victory.

They completed the 2000-metre race in 6:34.26, more than three seconds ahead of the American team. It was also the first gold medal won by a male competitor at this year’s games.

"We had an idea that we can possibly win, but you’re never too certain," Casaca said. "We were posting good times (in practice) and we knew we had some speed.

"It was just a matter of performing at the right time."

With the Pan Am Games under his belt, Casaca has his sights set on making the Canadian Olympic squad for the 2008 Games in Beijing. He is taking a year off from school to focus on training, before heading back for his senior year at the University of California-Berkley.

"We have a good core of guys who will be working hard all year," he said. "I’m one of the younger guys, so it’s going to be a fight to make that team."