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 36) 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 Carrington is an amazing canoeist from New Zealand. She is known as New Zealand's most successful Olympian ever! She has won a total of eight gold medals and one bronze medal at the Olympic Games.

Lisa won three gold medals in a row in the Women's K‑1 200 metres race at the 2012, 2016, and 2020 Summer Olympics. She also won gold in this event at the 2011 Canoe Sprint World Championships. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, she also won gold in the K‑2 500 metres with Caitlin Regal, and another gold in the K‑1 500 metres.

At the 2024 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 equal to another famous canoeist, Danuta Kozák, for winning all three K-1, K-2, and K-4 events over 500 metres at one Olympics.

About Lisa Carrington

Lisa Marie Carrington was born on June 23, 1989. She grew up in Ōhope, a town near Whakatāne in New Zealand. Lisa has both Māori and European family roots. She went to Whakatane High School and later studied at Massey University. When she was a child, Lisa loved playing netball and dreamed of becoming a "Silver Fern," which is what New Zealand's national netball team is called. In 2022, she married her long-time partner, Michael Buck.

Lisa's Canoeing Journey

Lisa Carrington started her amazing canoeing journey by winning medals at international events.

Early Success in Canoeing

In June 2009, Lisa won a bronze medal at a World Cup competition in Hungary. She competed with Teneale Hatton in the K‑2 1000 metres race. The next year, in May 2010, they won a gold medal in the same event at a World Cup in France. Later in 2010, she began working with her coach, Gordon Walker, who has helped her ever since.

Lisa and Teneale won three gold medals at the 2010 Oceania Canoe Championships. They won the 500 and 1000 metres K‑2 races. They also teamed up with Rachael Dodwell and Erin Taylor to win the K‑4 500 metres. Lisa and Teneale were the first New Zealanders to reach a World Championship A final at the 2010 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships in Poland.

World Championship Wins

At the 2011 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships, Lisa won a gold medal in the women's K‑1 200 metres event. This was a huge achievement, as she became the first New Zealand woman to win a canoeing World Championship title! This win also meant New Zealand earned a spot at the Olympics. Because of her success, she was also named the 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 race. But in the K‑1 200 metres, Lisa won the gold medal! At the 2012 Oceania Championships, she also won gold in the K‑1 200 metres and the K‑2 200 metres with Erin Taylor.

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

In 2019, at the Canoe Sprint World Championships, Lisa won more gold medals 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 gold medal in a row in the K‑1 200 metres event. On the same day, she and her teammate Caitlin Regal won a gold medal in the K‑2 500 metres event. Two days later, on August 5, 2021, she won another gold medal in the K‑1 500 metres event. With these three gold medals, she became New Zealand's most successful Olympian ever! She had a total of six medals, with five of them being gold. She was also the first New Zealand woman to win three gold medals at one Olympics. People started calling 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. She won 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!

Lisa decided to take a break from canoeing for the 2025 season. However, she has shared that she plans to compete again at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

Awards and Special Honours

Lisa Carrington (left), after receiving a special honour from the Governor-General, Sir Jerry Mateparae, in 2014.

Lisa Carrington has received many special awards and honours for her incredible achievements.

In November 2012, she was named New Zealand's top Māori sportswoman and overall Māori sportsperson of the year. In 2013, she was given the title of a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her great work in kayaking. This is a special honour from her country. In 2014, she was named the NEXT Woman of the Year in the Sport category.

Lisa also won the Sportswoman of the Year award at the Halberg Awards in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2021. In 2016 and 2021, she also won the Supreme Award, which is the top award given out.

On February 11, 2021, Lisa Carrington was recognized as the most influential Māori sports personality of the past 30 years. This was announced on a special TV show called Māori Sports Awards 30 in 30.

In 2022, Lisa received an even higher honour. She was promoted to Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her amazing contributions to canoe racing. This means she can now be called "Dame Lisa Carrington."

Sponsorships and Advertising

Lisa Carrington is also an ambassador for several brands. She helps promote Beef and Lamb New Zealand, along with other famous athletes like Eliza McCartney and Sophie Pascoe. She is also an ambassador for Southern Cross Health Society. Since June 2021, Lisa and her dog, Colin, have been ambassadors for Nexgard Spectra for Dogs in New Zealand.

See also

In Spanish: Lisa Carrington para niños