Dame Lisa Carrington has once again proven her dominance in the Women’s K1 event, clinching her eighth Olympic gold medal in Paris, her third medal at these Games, setting a new Olympic record in the process.
The race started with Hungarian competitor Tamara Csipes edging ahead of Carrington. However, the kiwi powerhouse surged forward in the second leg, overcoming a slight deficit at the 250m mark. Carrington powered through to the finish line with a time of 1:47.38, setting a new Olympic record and solidifying her legacy following her hat-trick of golds in Tokyo.
Reflecting on her victory, Carrington told Sky Sport, “It’s an amazing feeling. You set goals to win, but it’s more than just medals for us. Having my team here and seeing how we’ve grown together is incredible. I feel so privileged to be in this position. I paddle because I love it. The water was beautiful today, and competing in Paris was just amazing.”
Fellow New Zealander Aimee Fisher, despite a valiant effort, couldn’t recover from a slow start and finished fourth.
Canoe Racing New Zealand CEO Graham Oberlin-Brown expressed his pride in the team’s achievements, stating, “Having two black boats line up in an Olympic final was a dream come true and showcases the depth of talent within New Zealand. To see Lisa win another gold is simply outstanding. Both Lisa and Aimee have done New Zealand incredibly proud.”
Aimee Fisher also shared her thoughts after the race: “There was a lot of fear this morning. But when I lined up, I wasn’t afraid. I stuck to my game plan, but it just wasn’t enough today. Thank you to everyone who stood by my side in the fire.”
One of the standout moments of the event was the emotional embrace between Carrington and Fisher on the water after the race. Fisher, reflecting on her teammate’s victory, said, “Lisa raced beautifully. She was magnificent out there, and I’m so happy for her.”
With this latest gold, Carrington now stands alongside Birgit Fischer as the canoe athlete with the most Olympic gold medals in history.
