Hamish Lovemore thrillingly proved that he is one of the best canoeists in the world as he took home silver in a nail-biting K1 short distance canoe final at The World Games.
In doing so Lovemore opened the tally for Team SA at The World Games in Chengdu, China.
The 25-year-old missed out on victory by a matter of centimetres to the two-time short distance world champion from Denmark, Mads Pedersen. The pair broke away from the pack after the second portage and it was clear they were not going to be caught.
The suspense of wondering who would be on the podium dissipated as their lead stretched, turning the story of the final into who will get the golden edge.
The duel on Xinglong Lake showed that the South African star has more than just powerful pace – he has an expert tactical understanding. He played the race perfectly by making sure he remained behind Pedersen to gain the extra pull and wind cover, waiting for his moment to surge.
Lovemore made his move as they sprinted for the line on the final stretch. He grabbed the lead and looked destined for gold. However, Pedersen found a final drop of energy in the tank to inch his canoe ahead to win by 0.15 seconds.
The 2024 Olympian’s performance was worthy of a first-place finish as he crossed the line 23 seconds ahead of the third-placed canoeist. Pedersen acknowledged their exciting battle as he embraced Lovemore after the race. The gesture speaks volumes on the level that the Team SA canoeist has reached in both ability and status. He is no longer a rising talent. He is a star.
Lovemore will be back on the water tomorrow (11am SA time) to try to double his medal tally through the long distance final.
Words by Mark Lemke
