(2014 ☆ ARCHIVED) Hank McGregor - South Africa
HANK MCGREGOR (South Africa) - Nominee for the 'Sportsman of the Year' Award.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/hank_mcgregor
- Born: 1979, sports: canoe marathon (K1, K2), downriver, ocean-racing and surfski, represents: Republic of South Africa
- 2014: World Champion K1 and K2, won K1 Hansa Fish River Marathon, won K2 Non-Stop Dusi Canoe Marathon,
- 2013: World Champion K1, won K2 Hansa Fish River Marathon with Grant Van der Walt
To achieve double gold in K1 and K2 at the 2014 World Championship in Oklahoma City, with a gruelling schedule in both classes over distance, is a superhuman feat. Hank is the first South African to do so at an ICF World Championship, he completely dominated over the whole 35km in the kayak singles race. He adds to his prior collection of 3 World Championship golds in K1 (2003, 2011, 2013).
Two weeks after Oklahoma, Hank went onto win the 'one he wanted' the 82km Hansa Fish River Canoe Marathon, Eastern Cape in K1. This victory adds to his collection of staggering 5 consecutive K2 'Fish' wins. In 2011 Hank and Grant Van der Walt earned the record for the fastest ever K2 finish; 4:40:38.
Hank also holds the record for the fastest time ever in K1 at the 2006 Non-Stop Dusi Canoe Marathon back, he completed the 120km course in just under 8 hours over three days and unbelievably also against the K2s; undeniably worthy of an Award!
Activities and achievements off the water:
- Hank's father Lee was a top swimmer for South Africa who was not allowed to compete at the Olympics or World Championships because of apartheid in the country at the time. Lee became a leading ocean, surfski and river paddler, plus an Ironman instead
- Lee became Hank's coach
- 2014 has brought Hank injury and a new baby
This is a 2014 archived nominee. For the 2015 nominees click on the button below.
