South Africa’s premier marathon paddler Hamish Lovemore added a sprint world championship bronze to his growing list of achievements in the Under 23 men’s 5000m final in Szeged on Sunday.
Lovemore showed his strong form ahead of the upcoming ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships with his result this weekend at the Junior & Under 23 Sprint Championships.
His goal was the overall win however things didn’t go quite his own way through the race but he did well to finish on the podium and earn a first Under 23 men’s medal at the sprint world championships.
“I was a bit disappointed but I had to make a race of it,” Lovemore said.
“I missed the buoy on the third lap and I had to burn all my energy to catch back up but that’s how it goes.
“It’s not the end of the season yet for me. I’ve got two more big races and go and do what I love and race some marathons in Portugal.”
Lovemore’s performance brings down the curtain on the championship for team South Africa.
It was a strong week of racing for Lovemore who also made the A Final for the 1000m in the Under 23 age category and finished eighth.
The week’s racing was an important learning curve for the next generation of South African sprinters.
President of Canoeing South Africa Kim Pople was encouraged by the team’s performances throughout the week’s action.
“I think the best thing from the team was the personal best results,” Pople said. “We might not have got out of the heats but for the paddlers to achieve personal bests that’s all we can ask for.
“Hamish made the 1000m A Final which is an Olympic discipline and then finished off with a bronze which was a great way for the team to finish.
“We cannot wait for next year’s World Championships and are keen to get home with some new ideas as we build to 2023.”