Paris Games: uMdloti paddler ends Olympics on a high
Hamish Lovemore (24) represented Team SA in the flatwater kayak sprint events.
APPEARING in his debut Olympic Games, Hamish Lovemore showed true promise as he ended his games in Paris on a high.
The 24-year-old represented Team SA in the flatwater kayak sprint events in both the K2 500m and K1 1000m.
In the K2 event, he was joined by 14-time Dusi winner Andy Birkett.
The duo secured sixth place in the men’s kayak double 500m semi-final, earning their spot in the B-Final last week, missing out by just 0.19 seconds for a place in the A-Final.
They then finished fourth in the B-Final to end their campaign in 12th overall.
In the sprint kayak events, the A-Finals represent the fastest eight qualifying athletes while the B-Final is the eight best of the rest.
In the K1 1 000m, Lovemore won the B-Final which placed him 9th overall, to end his games on a high.
“Our goal for Paris was to give it our all. The level of talent at the Olympics is insane. I would have loved to get into an A-Final in both the K2 and K1 events, however, I think we pushed really hard and had an amazing time, which I’m proud of. The truth is, there was no easy heat,” he said.
Meanwhile, Team SA improved drastically in its medal tally as the country won two medals over the weekend, taking the tally to six medals.
The men’s 4x100m relay team, made up of Akani Simbine, Shaun Maswangani and teenagers Bayanda Walaza and Bradley Nkoana, clinched the silver medal.
On Saturday, javelin thrower Jo-Ané van Dyk won the country’s third silver medal at the Stade de France.
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