Growing up on a sheep farm in rural South Australia, Hamish McLachlan had big ambitions. The sports fan hoped to become a professional tennis player and AFL star.
Sadly, his dream was cut short when he hurt his knee during a weekend game of footy.
“I was hopeful I’d make a career out of one of them [sports],” he tells TV WEEK.
“But I had nine operations on my knee and lost a lot of mobility. I didn’t play a lot of either sport after that.”
Hamish with his Spartan colleagues Edwina and Wendell.
Today, the sports journalist and Australian Spartan co-host is fortunate enough to be doing the next best thing.
The 42-year-old has commentated on some of the biggest sporting events in the world and lives a life most people would envy. It’s not lost on him.
“I love my job,” he enthuses.
“I was going to play Davis Cup tennis and kick a goal in the AFL Grand Final – and now I commentate on some of the greatest athletes who do it.”
It was during a moment at the Australian Open that he realised just how lucky he was.
“I found myself commentating on a Roger Federer match,” he says.
“I was sitting beside [former world champions] Lleyton Hewitt and Jim Courier, watching the greatest player of all time. It was an out-of-body experience. I thought, ‘Is this really my job?'”
In 2018, Hamish’s career is going from strength to strength. After co-anchoring the Winter Olympics from PyeongChang in South Korea, the TV personality is in Brisbane for Australian Spartan.
He’s joined by Sunrise presenter and co-host Edwina Bartholomew, along with retired dual rugby international Wendell Sailor on the sidelines.
“When you watch these athletes, you think, ‘I’ve go to do more push-ups!'” he laughs.
“They’re so fit! But it’s a good crew and a truly epic production. When they asked me, I was so excited to join.”
Hamish hopes his daughters, Milla, five, and Indi, four, and son Lexi, who’s nearly two, will be able to enjoy the same once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that he has.
“Wherever I can, the kids and Sophie [Hamish’s wife] come with me,” he says.
“I’d love to include them in everything, so they can appreciate travel, meet great people and understand the value of hard work. They can also figure out whether they want to be involved in it or not.”
However, Hamish admits his enthusiasm for sport hasn’t quite resonated with the youngsters yet.
“Actually, the other day I asked the girls what they wanted to do for a job,” he begins.
“Milla wants to be a singer as well as a doctor, while Indi wants to be a fairy princess and a dolphin trainer! [Laughs]
“So, I’m not getting too hung up on the idea just yet.”
