McGregor duo to tackle Dusi for fun

People take up sport for different reasons.

But when it comes to five times world canoe marathon champion Hank McGregor, it is his hunger for winning that sets him apart from the rest.

In September last year, McGregor became the first South African paddler to win both K1 and K2 gold medals at the ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships in the US.

“I love winning. My goal is to win as many races as I can.”

The athlete has been shortlisted for the World Paddle Awards’ Sportsman of the Year Award – the only South African to be nominated.

The other two contenders in the category are the United States’ Fabien Lefevre (Slalom Canoe World Champion) and Germany’s Sebastian Brendel (reigning Olympic champion in sprint canoeing).

The winner will be announced at the World Paddle Awards ceremony, taking place on May 9 in Augsburg, Germany.

Hank is a tall figure and his presence commands attention, but in his home in Salt Rock with wife Pippa and their seven month old son Thorsten, Hank is a humble, easy going character.

When it comes to competing though, Hank is 110% focus.

He had to fight hard for his win at Friday night’s Hansa Surf Ski Challenge in Durban after first getting tangled in the shark nets and then being knocked off by a wave before reclaiming the lead just seconds ahead of Wade Krieger.

Although, a challenge of another kind is lying ahead.

With the Dusi canoe marathon starting on Thursday, this will be the first time that Hank will not be racing to win the event that he’s completed 11 times before.

This year he will compete socially with his wife Pippa in the Dr Ian Player Memorial Charity Batch.

“I’m actually recovering from an achilles injury so Pippa suggested that we do the Dusi for fun!” he said.

For Hank, being in a canoe race for fun is a foreign concept and he admits that Pippa will try and hold him back.

“It will be very interesting. I’m looking forward to it,” he said.

Pippa said she is looking forward to paddling with her husband.

“I am really excited and cannot wait for Thursday,” she said.

Hank said he will still try and lead the charity batch.

After the Dusi, Hank will prepare for the first international event towards the end of April.

“There is an international event nearly every month and I will be gunning to win as much as possible,” he said.

A typical training regime for Hank will mean two paddling sessions a day with some resistance and weight training at his home, with longer distance paddling over the weekends.

“The surf here in Salt Rock is really great because it is quite tricky with big swells. This improves my skill set in more conditions so I feel comfortable in bigger surf events like Hawaii and Tahiti.”

Right now he is enjoying the family time, but his hunger for winning is still strong and there will without a doubt, be another title next to Hank McGregor’s name in a few months’ time.