This paddling legend, who also made history at the age of 15 as the first person to win the Junior and Senior Ironman titles on the same day, has a steely determination within life and golf 

BY GRANT SHUB 

By the age of 11, Chalupsky was waking up at 4am to train for three hours before heading to school. He was training three times a day when other schoolboy athletes were training three times a week, which speaks to his champion mindset. He believes that if golf had entered his consciousness at that early stage, he probably would have gone professional. Chalupsky's father, Springbok paddler Paul, led by example and provided his son with the tools to where he wanted to go, but it was ultimately up to Oscar to put in those 10 000 hours.

These days Chalupsky says he would rather spend money on coaching than equipment and always asks for beginner golf clubs instead of the latest and greatest high-end technology. He reveals that he followed the same approach in his sport and made use of a beginner surf ski because he wanted to make the job easier, not harder for himself. 'I could play with blades on the course,' he says, 'but I prefer to utilise the easiest clubs which posssess the biggest sweet spots.'

Chalupsky says sport has always been his form of therapy and golf allows him to connect with like-minded individuals. He adds that when he takes to the course he is always so intense because he has a burning desire to win. 'And when I lose it means I've done something wrong and I learn from that and take it as a win,' he says.

'When I lose it means I've done something wrong and I learn from that and take it as a win. You learn consistency through failure'

'You learn consistency through failure but some of the professionals don't do it yet. Wilco Nienaber serves as a perfect example. He has talent like you cannot believe but doesn't win often enough,' says the 63-year-old 1992 Olympian.

In terms of Chalupsky's dream fourball, for the longest time it consisted of Ernie Els as his partner against the American duo of Tiger Woods and Fred Couples. However, with Couples getting a bit long in the tooth now scratching his mid-60s, Chalupsky would like to tee off against Woods and the current world No1 Scottie Scheffler, who boasts 20 PGA Tour victories and most recently claimed the coveted American Express when he shot 27-under-par to win by four strokes.

Meanwhile, Woods' body may be battered but Chalupsky, who won his last race at the age of 49 against youngsters, admires the American's longevity in the game. 'Tiger has abused his body with stupid errors but he's still talented beyond most people,' he says. Chalupsky believes that if Woods were to join the senior tour the prize money would double. Nonetheless what the pair have in common is the motto, 'no retreat, no surrender' which is the title of Chalupsky's book with Graham Spence. Having sold over 10 000 copies, an updated edition is now on sale nationwide.