Olympic gold medalists Lori-Ann Muenzer and Adam Van Keoverden pose for a photo at the See You In Athens Fund party at Schmooze Night Club in Toronto on Thursday. (Toronto Sun/Ernest Doroszuk)

It's now been a few weeks since their Olympic gold medal-winning performances, but the celebrating hasn't stopped for kayaker Adam van Koeverden and track cyclist Lori-Ann Muenzer.

Last night was a case in point. A party in Muenzer's honour at a snazzy, downtown bar call Shmooze, organized by the See You Athens Fund (now called the See You in Turino Fund for the 2006 Winter Games) -- the charitable organization that raised more than $2 million for Canadian amateur athletes in the 16 months leading up to the Athens Games -- was an opportunity for both athletes to thank friends and sponsors.

For van Koeverden, the Oakville athlete who became a household name after first capturing a bronze in the 1,000-metre event, then gold in the 500 metres, it was an opportunity to sit back and actually have a beer, not a usual facet of his training regimen.

"It has been crazy," said the 22-year-old McMaster University kinesiology student, talking about the past few weeks since his Olympic win. "I've been winding down, embracing the attention. I just don't want this to change me as a person."

CONGRATULATED

Life on campus has changed somewhat. Being a gold-medal Olympian will do that. Fellow students have walked up to him and congratulated him on the achievement.

"It's cool hearing these things from people I don't know," he said.

Training isn't on the timetable in the short term as van Koeverden focuses on school and competing for McMaster's cross-country team.

At 38, Muenzer became the second-oldest Canadian to win an Olympic gold medal. Muenzer was on her way back home to Edmonton after making a Toronto stopover where she participated in a corporate golf event. She'll now begin preparing for a series of World Cup events to qualify for the 2005 world championships in California.

"Maybe do a world record in the 200 metres," she said last night, her gold medal dangling around her neck. "We'll see how the fitness goes."

She'll soon get back to her full-time job at an Edmonton law firm, and says she looks forward to the opportunity to speak with kids.

"She's a huge inspiration," said Jane Roos, executive director of See You in Turino. "She overcame a lot of obstacles to get to where she is. Not many people thought she would be on the podium as a gold medallist, so her story is unique."