Canoeing battles between South Africa’s Hamish Lovemore and Denmark’s Mads Pedersen are captivating fans and elevating the sport to new heights.
Györ, Hungary (07 September 2025) – Some rivalries are what define sport. Federer vs Nadal on the tennis courts, Springboks vs All Blacks on the rugby field, Manchester United vs Liverpool on the football pitch. Now, marathon canoeing has its own with South Africa’s Hamish Lovemore and Denmark’s Mads Pedersen.
Over the past month, the two top paddlers have gone head-to-head three times, with major international medals on the line at every encounter. Pedersen has claimed victory in those races, including two golds at the World Games and another at the World Sprint Championships, but Lovemore has been steadily closing the gap, making every race tense and exciting. The stage was set for their next two battles at the ICF Marathon World Championships in Györ, Hungary. Lovemore hoped to finally beat his Danish rival in both the short 3.6km course and the gruelling 29km long-distance race.
Pedersen’s record speaks for itself. He has nine medals across five recent World Championships, dominating both long- and short-course events. Yet Lovemore’s growth from a talented river paddler to a world-class marathon and sprint competitor has made him the only paddler able to push Pedersen to the limit this season.
South Africa’s team in Györ was not just about this rivalry. A strong 23-member squad, including three-time World Champion Andy Birkett and 11-time World Champion Hank McGregor, hoped to make its mark across K1 and K2 races. On the women’s side, Saskia Hockly and Pippa McGregor were fierce contenders, while junior and U23 athletes brought us surprises.
The championships began with the short-course K1 races, before the long-course marathon distances took centre stage. Lovemore vs Pedersen was more than a race, but a rivalry that brought out the very best in both athletes, and a thrilling chapter in the story of South African canoeing.
Sources: Supplied
Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google.
Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:
Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.
by 