Durban paddler honoured

TEN-TIME World Marathon Champion Hank McGregor was recognised as one of the greatest paddlers of his generation when he was officially inducted into the World Paddling Awards Academy on an evening in which he also received the award for Most Outstanding Achievement for 2017 in a glitzy ceremony in Silkeborg, Denmark on Saturday.

The 40 year-old, who is widely acknowledged as the most versatile paddler in the world, was nominated for the Sportsman of the Year award, however lost out to the Slovenian Olympic silver medallist Peter Kauzer, but received strong recognition for this career achievements when he was inducted into the WPA Academy.

“It really means a lot to me to be recognised for my achievements. Winning an award like Most Outstanding Achievement for 2017 in a sport that has around 15 different disciplines was very satisfying. Then to be inducted into the Academy was an incredible feeling and to recognised worldwide for competing at the top level for so many years is hugely rewarding. I am really honoured and truly humbled by this award,” McGregor said.

McGregor won his ninth and tenth world marathon titles at the 2017 marathon world championships in Pietermaritzburg, an achievement that puts him right near the top of South African sports people with the most world championship achievements.

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The versatility of McGregor is evident in the fact that he has 10 flat-water marathon world titles, he has been an ocean racing world champion and recently won the FNB Dusi Canoe Marathon with Andy Birkett in a K2.

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