Hamish Lovemore has been a standout performer for Team SA at The World Games in Chengdu, China. The canoeist won two silver medals in the K1 short distance and marathon events, solidifying his status as one of the world’s best, writes Mark Lemke.
From Chengdu, he travelled Italy for the upcoming sprint world championship from where he reflected on his time at The World Games and shared his desire to focus on sprinting going forward.
“The World Games feels like a level higher than the world championships as it is only every four years and the selection is tighter, so winning the two silvers is a great feeling and I am proud of my performances. The silver in the marathon race is more of a bonus because I have been focusing on the shorter distances to prepare for LA.”
The 25-year-old started his shift away from the long-distance races at the start of the year. He grew up as a marathon racer, but his goal of medalling at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics can only come through sprint events. This year he has experienced the effects of his new training as he pursues his dream.
“The sprint training is much faster, and the intervals are shorter. It has given me a lot more speed at the start of a race and I have found myself at the front of the pack more often. I still feel I have a long way to go before I reach par with the very best sprinters, but I am pleased with my progress and China was a good sign of what can come.”
Lovemore has one last dance with marathons lined up before devoting his full attention to sprints. “The world championships are in Hungary in September, and I am going to give that a good crack. After that I think it will be time to put long distance on the back burner because the Olympics is coming quickly, but I have a solid preparation plan for them.”
Lovemore will be returning to home following the sprint world championship in Milan. He began a business called Zini Camps, which runs training camps up the North coast of Durban in Mtunzini. “It has been a fun year with our camps, and it helps me kill two birds with one stone as I get to run the business and train at the same time. I love training and it is great to be able to use that love beyond my own competitive career.”
The friendly and hard-working Team SA canoeist is making waves in the sport and is climbing the ladder occupied by the best. The incredible performances at The World Games are a clear indication that he will be present at the 2028 LA Olympics with a serious chance of leaving with metal around his neck.
