Kailua’s Dolan keeps dream alive

On a day designed to inspire grassroots Olympic efforts, Ryan Dolan announced that his Olympic dream — so close to becoming reality this year — has not died.

Dolan was the guest speaker at Monday’s Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation 22nd annual Mahalo Luncheon, which also marked the 100th anniversary of Kahanamoku’s gold-medal performance at the 1912 Olympics. Dolan, 22, grew up in Kailua and started paddling as a sophomore at Maryknoll.

After three years of fulltime kayak training, he earned a place in the Olympics for Team USA by winning a bronze medal in the K-1 200 sprint at last year’s Pan Am Games.

“My greatest moment as an athlete,” Dolan called it.

At this year’s U.S. Trials, teammate Tim Hornsby beat Dolan by eight-hundredths of a second — “about 6 inches” — and ultimately earned the right to represent the U.S. in London.

“Today was the first day I was back in the kayak,” Dolan said Monday, while his mother, Anne Dolan Van Oss, wiped tears from her eyes. “I’m looking toward the 2016 Olympics. I want to keep the dream alive.”

Van Oss said when her youngest son told her he would train on, her reaction was “Hell yeah!”

Ryan’s reasoning was that “I’m too young to stop,” acknowledging paddlers rarely hit their peak before 30.

The foundation awarded $130,950 in college scholarships and grants, to 61 Hawaii athletes and non-profit groups competing in water sports and volleyball.

Lanai High graduate Catherine Stuck earned the signature $10,000 Duke Kahanamoku Ambassador of Aloha Scholarship. Stuck called the scholarship “the most amazing opportunity I’ve ever had.”

She left Monday night for her freshman year at St. Johns in New York. She wants to major in political science, paddle in the Hudson River and eventually work at the United Nations and in politics.

2012-2013 ODKF COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP AWARDEES

2012 ODKF ATHLETIC GRANT AWARDEES

Ryan Dolan (Kayaking); Crystal Dzigas (Surfing); Madisyn Uekawa (Swimming); Hawaii Olympians Fund; Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii (11th annual Duke Ocean Sports & Fitness Day); Hawaii National Guard Youth Challenge Academy; Hawaii U.S. Olympic Development Water Polo Team; Ho’opa Hawaii Volleyball Club; IMUA Athletics; ‘Iolani Swim Club; Kamehameha Schools Surf Team; Kamehameha Swim Club; Keiki Oceanfest; Ku’ikahi Wahine Volleyball Club; Lanikai Canoe Club; Na Kama Kai (Ocean Safety and Awareness Clinic); Na Opio Canoe Racing Association; Outrigger Canoe Club; Surfrider Spirit Sessions; Waikiki Beach Boys Canoe Club.