Lisa Carrington facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Dame Lisa Carrington
DNZM

Carrington in 2022
Personal information
Born	(1989-06-23) 23 June 1989 (age 35) Tauranga, New Zealand
Height	1.68 m
Spouse(s)	Michael Buck ​ (m. 2022)​
Sport
Country	New Zealand
Sport	Sprint kayak
Event(s)	K-1 200 m, K-1 500 m, K-2 500 m, K-4 500 m
Club	Eastern Bay Canoe Racing Club (Whakatāne)
Coached by	Gordon Walker (2010–present)
Medal record Women's canoe sprint Representing  New Zealand Event 1st 2nd 3rd Olympic Games 8 0 1 World Championships 15 5 2 Olympic Games Gold 2012 London K-1 200 m Gold 2016 Rio de Janeiro K-1 200 m Gold 2020 Tokyo K-1 200 m Gold 2020 Tokyo K-1 500 m Gold 2020 Tokyo K-2 500 m Gold 2024 Paris K-1 500 m Gold 2024 Paris K-2 500 m Gold 2024 Paris K-4 500 m Bronze 2016 Rio de Janeiro K-1 500 m World Championships Gold 2011 Szeged K-1 200 m Gold 2013 Duisburg K-1 200 m Gold 2014 Moscow K-1 200 m Gold 2015 Milan K-1 200 m Gold 2015 Milan K-1 500 m Gold 2017 Račice K-1 200 m Gold 2017 Račice K-2 500 m Gold 2018 Montemor-o-Velho K-1 200 m Gold 2019 Szeged K-1 200 m Gold 2019 Szeged K-1 500 m Gold 2022 Dartmouth K-1 200 m Gold 2022 Dartmouth K-1 500 m Gold 2023 Duisburg K-1 200 m Gold 2023 Duisburg K-1 500 m Gold 2023 Duisburg K-4 500 m Silver 2014 Moscow K-1 500 m Silver 2017 Račice K-1 500 m Silver 2018 Montemor-o-Velho K-1 500 m Silver 2018 Montemor-o-Velho K-2 500 m Silver 2018 Montemor-o-Velho K-4 500 m Bronze 2013 Duisburg K-1 500 m Bronze 2017 Račice K-4 500 m

Dame Lisa Marie Carrington is a famous kayaker from New Zealand. She was born on June 23, 1989. Lisa is New Zealand's most successful Olympian ever! She has won an amazing eight gold medals and one bronze medal at the Olympic Games.

Lisa is known for winning three gold medals in a row in the K‑1 200 metres event at the 2012, 2016, and 2020 Summer Olympics. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, she also won two more gold medals. One was in the K‑2 500 metres with her teammate Caitlin Regal. The other was in the K‑1 500 metres event.

In 2024, at the Paris Olympics, Lisa continued her winning streak. She won gold medals in the K‑1 500 metres, K‑2 500 metres (with Alicia Hoskin), and K‑4 500 metres events. This made her the first person to win all three K-1, K-2, and K-4 events over 500 metres at one Olympics, matching a record set by Danuta Kozák.

About Lisa's Life

Lisa Carrington grew up in Ōhope, a town near Whakatāne in New Zealand. She was born in Tauranga. Lisa has both Māori and European family roots. She went to Whakatane High School and later to Massey University.

When she was a child, Lisa loved playing netball. She even dreamed of becoming a "Silver Fern," which is the name for New Zealand's national netball team. In 2022, Lisa married her long-time partner, Michael Buck.

Lisa's Kayaking Journey

Lisa started making a name for herself in kayaking in 2009. She won a bronze medal at a World Cup event in Hungary with her teammate Teneale Hatton. The next year, they won a gold medal together in France. In late 2010, Lisa began working with her coach, Gordon Walker, who still coaches her today.

Early Successes

In 2010, Lisa and Teneale won three gold medals at the Oceania Canoe Championships. They were the first New Zealanders to reach a World Championship A final. This was a big step for them in the sport.

In 2011, Lisa won a gold medal at the World Championships in Hungary. This was in the K‑1 200 metres event. It was a historic win because she was the first New Zealand woman to win a canoeing World Championship title. This win also helped New Zealand get a spot in the Olympics. She was also honored as the top Māori Senior Sports Woman of the Year.

Olympic Achievements

Lisa represented New Zealand at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. She and Erin Taylor finished 7th in the K‑2 500 metres. But in the K‑1 200 metres, Lisa won her first Olympic gold medal!

At the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Lisa defended her K‑1 200 metres gold medal. She also won a bronze medal in the K‑1 500 metres. This made her the first New Zealand woman to win more than one medal at the same Olympics. Lisa was chosen to carry the flag for New Zealand at the closing ceremony.

In 2019, Lisa won two more gold medals at the Canoe Sprint World Championships. She won in both the K‑1 500 metres and K‑1 200 metres events.

On August 3, 2021, at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Lisa won her third straight gold medal in the K‑1 200 metres. On the same day, she and Caitlin Regal won gold in the K‑2 500 metres. Two days later, she won another gold in the K‑1 500 metres. With these three gold medals, Lisa became New Zealand's most successful Olympian ever! She has won more Olympic medals than any other New Zealander. People even called her the "Greatest of All Time (GOAT) in the boat."

In August 2024, Lisa won three more Olympic gold medals at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. These were in the K4 500m, K2 500m, and K1 500m events. The K1 500m gold was her eighth career Olympic gold medal and her ninth medal overall.

Awards and Special Honours

Lisa Carrington (left) receiving an award from the governor-general, Sir Jerry Mateparae, in 2014.

Lisa Carrington has received many awards for her amazing achievements. In November 2012, she was named New Zealand's top Māori sportswoman. In 2013, she was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to kayaking.

She also won the "NEXT Woman of the Year" award in the Sport category in 2014. Lisa has won the "Sportswoman of the Year" award at the Halberg Awards multiple times. In 2016 and 2021, she even won the top "Supreme Award" at the Halberg Awards.

In 2021, Lisa was named the most important Māori sports person of the last 30 years. This was on a special TV show called Māori Sports Awards 30 in 30.

In 2022, Lisa received an even higher honor. She was made a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. This means she is now called "Dame Lisa Carrington" for her incredible contributions to canoe racing.

Sponsorships and Advertising

Lisa Carrington is an ambassador for several brands. She helps promote Beef and Lamb New Zealand. She is also an ambassador for Southern Cross Health Society, which is a health insurance company. Since 2021, Lisa and her dog, Colin, have also been ambassadors for Nexgard Spectra for Dogs in New Zealand.

See also

In Spanish: Lisa Carrington para niños