Lisa Carrington

Dame
Lisa Carrington
Carrington in 2022
Personal information
NationalityNew Zealand
Born (1989-06-23) 23 June 1989 (age 34)
Tauranga, New Zealand
Height1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)[1]
Spouse
Michael Buck
(m. 2022)
Sport
CountryNew Zealand
SportSprint kayak
Event(s)K-1 200 m, K-1 500 m, K-2 500 m, K-4 500 m
ClubEastern Bay Canoe Racing Club (Whakatāne)[2]
Coached byGordon Walker (2010–present)
Medal record
Women's canoe sprint
Representing  New Zealand
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
Olympic Games 5 0 1
World Championships 15 5 2
Total 20 5 3
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2012 London K-1 200 m
Gold medal – first place 2016 Rio de Janeiro K-1 200 m
Gold medal – first place 2020 Tokyo K-1 200 m
Gold medal – first place 2020 Tokyo K-1 500 m
Gold medal – first place 2020 Tokyo K-2 500 m
Bronze medal – third place 2016 Rio de Janeiro K-1 500 m
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2011 Szeged K-1 200 m
Gold medal – first place 2013 Duisburg K-1 200 m
Gold medal – first place 2014 Moscow K-1 200 m
Gold medal – first place 2015 Milan K-1 200 m
Gold medal – first place 2015 Milan K-1 500 m
Gold medal – first place 2017 Račice K-1 200 m
Gold medal – first place 2017 Račice K-2 500 m
Gold medal – first place 2018 Montemor-o-Velho K-1 200 m
Gold medal – first place 2019 Szeged K-1 200 m
Gold medal – first place 2019 Szeged K-1 500 m
Gold medal – first place 2022 Dartmouth K-1 200 m
Gold medal – first place 2022 Dartmouth K-1 500 m
Gold medal – first place 2023 Duisburg K-1 200 m
Gold medal – first place 2023 Duisburg K-1 500 m
Gold medal – first place 2023 Duisburg K-4 500 m
Silver medal – second place 2014 Moscow K-1 500 m
Silver medal – second place 2017 Račice K–1 500 m
Silver medal – second place 2018 Montemor-o-Velho K-1 500 m
Silver medal – second place 2018 Montemor-o-Velho K-2 500 m
Silver medal – second place 2018 Montemor-o-Velho K-4 500 m
Bronze medal – third place 2013 Duisburg K-1 500 m
Bronze medal – third place 2017 Račice K-4 500 m

Dame Lisa Marie Carrington DNZM (born 23 June 1989)[2] is a flatwater canoeist and New Zealand's most successful Olympian, having won a total of five gold medals and one bronze medal.[3][4] She won three consecutive gold medals in the Women's K‑1 200 metres at the 2012 Summer Olympics, 2016 Summer Olympics and 2020 Summer Olympics, as well as gold in the same event at the 2011 Canoe Sprint World Championships.[5][6] At the 2020 Summer Olympics she also won a gold medal in the K‑2 500 metres, with crewmate Caitlin Regal, and as an individual in the K‑1 500 metres.

Early and private life[edit]

Born in Tauranga,[7] Carrington was raised in Ōhope, a satellite town of Whakatāne in the eastern Bay of Plenty, and is of Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki and Ngāti Porou as well as European descent.[8][9] She attended Whakatane High School, and Massey University in Albany.[2] As a child she played netball and aspired to be a Silver Fern.[10] She married her long-time partner Michael Buck in 2022.[11]

Canoeing[edit]

In June 2009 she won a bronze medal at the World Cup regatta held in Szeged, Hungary, competing alongside Teneale Hatton in the women's K‑2 1000 metres event.[12] In May 2010 the pair won the gold medal in the same event at a World Cup regatta in Vichy, France.[13] In late 2010 she started working with coach Gordon Walker.[14]

Carrington and Hatton won three gold medals at the 2010 Oceania Canoe Championships; they won the 500 and 1000 metres K‑2 events and were joined by Rachael Dodwell and Erin Taylor to win the K‑4 500 metres.[15] The pair became the first New Zealanders ever to reach a World Championship A final at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships in Poznań, Poland.[16] Their time of one minute 42.365 seconds in the semi-finals meant they qualified third fastest for the final of the K‑2 500 metres, however they finished the final in ninth position.[16]

At the 2011 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships in Szeged, Carrington won the gold medal in the women's K‑1 200 metres event; and became the first New Zealand woman to win a canoeing World Championship title.[17] The result secured an Olympic qualification berth for New Zealand.[18] She was also honoured with the Māori Senior Sports Woman of the Year Award.[19]

Carrington represented New Zealand at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.[20] In the K‑2 500 metres, Carrington and Erin Taylor finished 7th, and in the K‑1 200 metres Carrington won the gold medal. At the 2012 Oceania Championships, Carrington won gold medals in the K‑1 200 metres and in the K‑2 200 metres with Taylor.[18][21]

At the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, she defended her gold medal in the K‑1 200 metres event[22] and won a bronze medal in the K‑1 500 metres event.[23] In doing so, she became the first New Zealand woman to win multiple medals at the same Olympic games.[24] Carrington was the flag bearer at the 2016 closing ceremony.[25]

At the 2019 Canoe Sprint World Championships in Szeged, Carrington won gold medals in the K‑1 500 metres and K‑1 200 metres events.[26]

On 3 August 2021, at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Carrington won her third consecutive gold medal in the K‑1 200 metres event.[6] On the same day, she and her crewmate Caitlin Regal won a gold medal in the K‑2 500 metres event.[27] On 5 August 2021, she won a further gold medal in the K‑1 500 metres event.[4] With her third gold medal, she became New Zealand's most successful Olympian of all time, with a total of six medals (one more than fellow canoeists Ian Ferguson and Paul MacDonald and equestrian Mark Todd), five of which are gold (one more than Ferguson's previous record).[28][29] She is also the first New Zealand woman to win three gold medals at a single Olympics,[29][28] and was referred to by the New Zealand Herald as the "Greatest of All Time (GOAT) in the boat".[30]

Awards and honours[edit]

Carrington (left), after her investiture as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit by the governor-general, Sir Jerry Mateparae, at Government House, Wellington, on 20 March 2014

Carrington was named as New Zealand's senior Māori sportswoman and overall Māori sportsperson of the year in November 2012.[31] In the 2013 New Year Honours, she was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to kayaking.[32] In 2014, Carrington was named the NEXT Woman of the Year in the Sport category.[33] At the 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2021 Halberg Awards, she won the Sportswoman of the Year, and in 2016 and 2021 she also won the Supreme Award.[24][34][35]

On 11 February 2021, Carrington was named the most influential Māori sports personality of the past 30 years in the Māori Sports Awards 30 in 30 show, aired on Māori Television.[36][37]

In the 2022 New Year Honours, Carrington was promoted to Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to canoe racing.[38]

Sponsorship and advertising work[edit]

Carrington is an athlete ambassador for Beef and Lamb New Zealand, alongside Eliza McCartney, Sophie Pascoe and Sarah Walker.[39] She is also an ambassador for Southern Cross Health Society.[40]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Lisa Carrington – Profile – London 2012 Olympics". Archived from the original on 30 July 2012. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  2. ^ a b c "Lisa Carrington". Canoe Racing New Zealand. Archived from the original on 21 August 2012. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
  3. ^ Anderson, Ian (3 August 2021). "Tokyo Olympics: Lisa Carrington wins second gold, ties record as New Zealand duo win K2 500". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  4. ^ a b Anderson, Ian (5 August 2021). "New Zealand's Lisa Carrington wins third gold at Tokyo Olympics". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  5. ^ "Lisa Carrington – Profile – Rio 2016 Olympics". Rio2016.com. Rio 2016 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on 22 September 2016. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  6. ^ a b Cleaver, Dylan (3 August 2021). "Tokyo Olympics 2020: Kayaking - Lisa Carrington claims third straight gold in the K1 500m". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  7. ^ Plumb, Simon (11 August 2012). "Carrington wins gold in K1 200m". Fairfax Media New Zealand (via Stuff.co.nz). Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  8. ^ "Iwi hails Carrington's prowess". Radio New Zealand. 13 August 2012. Archived from the original on 15 December 2013. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  9. ^ "Carrington: Connecting to my Māori roots has helped me". 1 News. 6 August 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  10. ^ "Lisa Carrington's proud parents 'very humbled' after daughter's Olympic win". 1 News. 6 August 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  11. ^ "'Best day ever': Lisa Carrington marries". Otago Daily Times. 24 March 2022.
  12. ^ Leggat, David (13 August 2009). "Kayaking: Custom boat helps get speed up". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  13. ^ Cleaver, Dylan (10 May 2012). "Kayaking: Young Kiwis paddle to first in K2 1000". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 12 January 2014. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  14. ^ McFadden, Suzanne (9 June 2021). "Tokyo Olympics: Lisa Carrington on how her long-time coach helps calm her nerves". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  15. ^ "Kiwis take three Oceania kayaking golds". New Zealand Press Association. 14 February 2010. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  16. ^ a b "Kiwi women qualify for kayaking final". New Zealand Press Association. 21 August 2010. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  17. ^ "Carrington restores canoeing credibility". The New Zealand Herald. New Zealand Press Association. 4 May 2012. Archived from the original on 30 May 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  18. ^ a b "Australia Secures three Olympic Quotas at Oceania Championships". International Canoe federation. Archived from the original on 1 August 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  19. ^ "Lisa Carrington wins Maori Sports Award". Canoe Racing New Zealand. Archived from the original on 20 December 2012. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  20. ^ Plumb, Simon (4 May 2012). "Kayaker Lisa Carrington has eyes on gold". Fairfax NZ News. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  21. ^ "2012 ICF Oceania Championship". Canoe Racing New Zealand. Archived from the original on 18 July 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  22. ^ "Olympics Banner Rio Olympics 2016: Lisa Carrington claims gold in K1 200m". The New Zealand Herald. 17 August 2016. Archived from the original on 17 August 2016. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  23. ^ Hinton, Marc (19 August 2016). "Rio Olympics 2016: Lisa Carrington claims bronze in women's K1 500m final". Stuff. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  24. ^ a b Burgess, Michael (9 February 2017). "Lisa Carrington queen of sport with Halberg Awards wins". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 10 February 2017. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  25. ^ "Rio Olympics 2016: Lisa Carrington to carry the NZ flag at closing ceremony". The New Zealand Herald. 22 August 2016. Archived from the original on 7 September 2016. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  26. ^ Miller, Grant (26 August 2019). "K1 golden double". Gisborne Herald. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  27. ^ Anderson, Ian (3 August 2021). "Lisa Carrington get another gold as New Zealand duo win K2 500 at Tokyo Olympics". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  28. ^ a b Farrer, Martin (5 August 2021). "Lisa Carrington is New Zealand's greatest ever Olympian after third Tokyo gold". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  29. ^ a b "Tokyo Olympics: Carrington wins gold to make history". Radio New Zealand. 5 August 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  30. ^ "Tokyo Olympics 2020: Shot at Games immortality as Lisa Carrington storms into another final in the K1 500m". NZ Herald. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  31. ^ "Carrington wins Maori Sportsperson of Year". Fairfax Media (via Stuff.co.nz). 24 November 2012. Retrieved 25 November 2012.
  32. ^ "New Year honours list 2013". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2012. Archived from the original on 28 January 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  33. ^ "NEXT Woman of the Year 2014 revealed". Fashion Quarterly. 9 October 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  34. ^ "Hamish Bond and Eric Murray crowned decade champions at Halberg Awards". Stuff.co.nz. 25 March 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  35. ^ "Dame Lisa Carrington takes out Supreme Award at 59th Halberg Awards". The New Zealand Herald. 23 February 2022. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  36. ^ "Māori Sports Awards 30 in 30, Episode 3". Māori Television. 11 February 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  37. ^ Smith, Tony (11 February 2021). "Māori Sports Awards: Lisa Carrington judged most influential Māori sports star since 1991". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  38. ^ "New Year Honours: the full list of 2022". New Zealand Herald. 31 December 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  39. ^ "Rio Olympics 2016: McCartney becomes an Iron Maiden". The New Zealand Herald. 5 October 2016. Archived from the original on 9 October 2016. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
  40. ^ Pellegrino, Nicky (6 December 2018). "Olympian Lisa Carrington reveals how she overcame exhaustion and her top tips for living well". Now To Love. Retrieved 7 November 2019.

External links[edit]

Awards
Preceded by New Zealand's Sportswoman of the Year
2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021
2023
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Zoi Sadowski-Synnott
Incumbent
Preceded by Halberg Awards – Supreme Award
2016
2021
2023
Succeeded by
Preceded by Succeeded by
Zoi Sadowski-Synnott
Preceded by
Zoi Sadowski-Synnott
Incumbent
Preceded by Lonsdale Cup
2016, 2017
2021
Succeeded by
Preceded by Succeeded by
Zoi Sadowski-Synnott