Eight-time Olympic champion Lisa Carrington will return to international competition this year at the International Canoe Federation Canoe Sprint World Championships in Milan, Italy.
With only 18 days to go until the flagship event begins, Carrington will replace fellow Paris 2024 gold medallist Olivia Brett in the women’s kayak four, after the latter sustained an injury in training.
Having initially planned to skip the season, Carrington, who is the country’s most successful Olympian with eight gold and one bronze medal, was not part of the New Zealand team for the first two ICF Canoe Sprint World Cups in Szeged and Poznan.
However, the multiple world champion has stepped in under the circumstances and has already joined the team in Italy.
“This is a really tough situation for Olivia, and our thoughts are with her as she begins her recovery. CRNZ will support her every step of the way to get back on the water,” Nathan Luce, who is the General Manager of Performance at Canoe Racing New Zealand, said.
“We’re fortunate to have someone of Lisa’s calibre available to step in. While she hasn’t competed internationally this year, she’s maintained full-time training and is in race-ready form.”
The new K4 team for New Zealand will feature Carrington, Alicia Hoskin, Tara Vaughan, and Lucy Matehaere, as they aim to clinch gold at the Idroscalo Regatta Course.
Carrington led Brett, Hoskin, and Vaughan to the gold medal at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 in the K4 500m.
The victory saw her equal the record title tally of Germany’s Birgit Fischer, which had stood for 20 years.
The K4 500m title in France was New Zealand’s first, ending a 40-year domination by Germany and Hungary in the event at the Games.
However, the Kiwi team was unable to secure a podium finish in the season-opening World Cups this season.
New Zealand will hope that the fortunes change with Carrington back in the mix.
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