Canoeing | Hank McGregor thinks he may be maturing at last

DURBAN – At 47 years old, multiple world canoeing champion Hank McGregor thinks "maybe" he is maturing at last. The bad news for his rivals is that McGregor's new-found maturity in no way dampens his fire to win, and there is every chance the 11-time Canoe World Marathon Champion could possibly claim another three world titles over the next couple of months.

Multiple Marathon World Champion Hank McGregor is hoping for a home town win at the Ocean Racing World Championships in Durban later this year

First target for McGregor will be grabbing a 12th World Marathon title in September, when he teams up with Uli Hart for the K2 race in Gyor, Hungary. Then a few weeks later he will be aiming for a pair of home-town wins at an event that is close to his heart, the ICF Ocean Racing World Championships in Durban.

For the Durban World Championships, McGregor is wearing enough hats to start a millinery. The Durban-based paddler will be hoping for a home win in the singles race; then teaming up with his wife Pippa as one of the favourites to claim the world mixed doubles title in the doubles race; he is sponsored by and will be representing both Euro Steel and Shaw and Partners, the two main sponsors of the event; and is also representing the athletes interests on the organising committee.

The Ocean Racing World Championships on October 17-19 provides an opportunity for McGregor to add a title that he feels is missing from his long list of achievements.

"To have world championships and to represent your country there is always pretty special, so I'm super excited and also pretty honoured that the world champs have come to my backyard ... I'm pretty stoked about that. It is also the one title I have chased for many years and I have come second far too many times ... and they were close seconds as well," he says, before revealing a change in attitude toward his racing."

"But what can you do ... I've thought about it and I guess what will be will be. I think for me now, I am just excited to be racing and it's not all about winning any more."

"For me, I think it's a lot to do with being present and in the moment. It's not all about just crossing the line first any more. It's also about doing the best I can on the day. I think that's my mindset nowadays ... it's changed a lot in the last couple of years."

"I feel like you can get a silver medal and you can be left with this bitter disappointment. What is still a remarkable achievement for 99% of other people in the world is a disappointment just because you are one position away from where you wanted to be."

"So now I've sort of come to terms with the idea I'll just do the best I can on the day. Not hope for the best, just do the best I can."

"I think it's just a different type of mindset ... maybe I've matured to a point I can now enjoy and embrace what the whole event is about."

McGregor and his wife, Pippa, are used to teaming up and winning races in a double together, and are excited about having the opportunity to win the mixed doubles title at the Ocean Racing World Championships.

"Yes, we are going to do that and that is pretty cool. Surfski doubles racing in South Africa is probably the strongest in the world, just because we probably do more doubles races than any other country. I think this year the World Mixed Doubles Champs is going to be an awesome event. I'm looking forward to paddling with Pippa and I think it will be pretty special racing with my wife in a World Championships ... I think that's pretty cool."

However, before he shows off his world-beating abilities to his local fans, McGregor will be proving his longevity in the sport at the Marathon World Championships.

"This will be my fourth World Marathon Championships in Gyor in Hungary. For 31 years now, I've been in the national team for marathon racing — my first world champs was '94."

"I'm looking forward to racing the World Marathon Champs with Uli. I raced with him last year and we were dicing for fourth overall and finally came fifth, so this will be our second World Championships racing together. I think we can really pull off something, and if we could sneak a medal, it would be really special."

Pics: Graham Daniel / Gameplan Media