Speaking of food, here’s something you may not have known about Sam: he likes pickled herring, something they eat a lot of in Sweden. “It tastes a lot better than it sounds.” Another thing: he loves to sing. A video clip of Sam singing Survivor’s Eye of the Tiger while training was posted on his Facebook page earlier this year and was picked up by national media. He has a good voice and used to be involved in local theatre. He performed in All Shook Up in 2010, among other shows. He admits the interest is still there; if only he had the time. Music is still a big part of his life though. It plays a huge part in his events. “It helps you keep the rhythm when you’re kayaking.” We can’t tell you what he listens to, though, because he wouldn’t tell us. Travel’s a big part of his life too. “My sporting journey has taken me to a lot of places and I’m still exploring. But Gothenburg is my favourite place so far.” Sweden is, he says, a very active place. “I think they know the summer will end so everyone’s out there trying to make the most of it.”
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Sam’s certainly made the most of this summer in New Zealand. His Facebook page is littered with photos of kayaking and various other adventures, and his Coast to Coast victory in February was closely followed by an Ironman. Ironman events, he says, aren’t as tough as one might think. “An ironman is really a marathon. You just have to swim and bike to the start line.” On winning the Coast to Coast Longest Day, Sam says he felt a huge sense of relief. “Only those who know me well can actually appreciate just how long and how much I actually wanted this,” he told media afterwards. “It’s quite overwhelming to finally tick that box and finally be able to call myself a Coast to Coast champion. Everyone hurts out there and I was certainly hurting on a number of occasions.” I wonder what kept him going. “You know eventually the day will be over. It’s only a day,” he says. He makes it sounds so easy. He’s a master of the understatement.