Dame Lisa Carrington: Kiwi Athlete Profile

As the excitement of the Olympics sweeps across the globe, with the Opening Ceremony being held on Saturday, multiple sports have already begun, and the thrill of cheering on our country, it’s time to shine a spotlight on one of New Zealand’s most remarkable athletes—Lisa Carrington.

Picture this: a fearless kayaker slicing through the water with the speed of a cheetah and the grace of a dolphin. Lisa Carrington is not just competing; she’s making history and inspiring us all.

Previously in our Kiwi Kids News Feature Articles, we took a look at the history of the Olympic games and some interesting facts about the games. In the coming weeks, we get to dive deeper into the Olympic games and end the term with some questions that we all want to know the answers to.

Carrington is of Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki and Ngāti Porou descent. She was born in Tauranga, but, when she was eight years old, she moved east along the coast to Ōhope with her family, which includes two elder brothers, Shaun and Brett. She grew up swimming and competing in netball. Carrington developed a great love for surf skiing and about age 14 began to focus primarily on the sport, often using a regular kayak during training. She soon decided to concentrate on kayaking. Carrington began racing with the Eastern Bay Canoe Racing Club in nearby Whakatāne and took lessons from Olympic gold medalist kayaker Ian Ferguson.

The Olympics are happening right now, and all eyes are on Lisa as she aims to add more gold medals to her collection. She’s already a six-time Olympic medalist—five of which are Gold—having dazzled the world in the 2012 London, 2016 Rio, 2020 Tokyo, and now in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Carrington did not disappoint her coaches and fans at the 2012 Olympic Games. She won the gold medal in the K1 200-meter sprint, placed seventh alongside Taylor in the K2 500-meter sprint. Lisa Carrington’s success soared in 2013, with golds in the K1 200-meter and 500-meter events at World Cups in Szeged, Racice, and Poznań, plus gold and bronze at the world championships in Duisburg. In 2014, she won two golds and a bronze at the Milan and Racice World Cups, and gold and silver at the Moscow world championships. Her 2015 record was stellar, earning gold in every World Cup event and every race at the Milan world championships.

Lisa isn’t just a medal winner; she’s a record breaker! In the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, she became the first woman to win three gold medals in a single Olympic Games in the kayaking events.

In 2022, Lisa Carrington was Knighted and became a Dame.

Carrington’s journey from a small town girl to an Olympic legend is nothing short of inspirational. When I am older, I think that I would want to compete in the Olympics for New Zealand, and so can you if you want to. Whether you’re an aspiring athlete or someone chasing a dream, Lisa’s story is inspiring for us all.

Comprehension Questions
1. Where did Lisa Carrington move when she was eight years old, and what sports did she participate in as a child?
2. What notable achievement did Lisa Carrington accomplish in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics?
3. Who helped train Lisa Carrington in kayaking, and where did she begin racing?
4. How many Olympic medals has Lisa Carrington won, and how many of those are gold?

Activities for Kids
1. Create a Kayak Race Poster:
Design a colorful poster promoting a kayak race inspired by Lisa Carrington. Include details like the event name, date, and a drawing of kayakers racing through the water.

2. Write a Letter to Lisa:
Write a letter to Lisa Carrington, telling her how she inspires you. Include questions you would like to ask her about her Olympic experiences and training.

3. Kayak Craft:
Make a mini kayak out of recycled materials like cardboard, straws, and colored paper. Use your imagination to decorate it just like Lisa’s kayak might look!

4. Olympic Medal Chart:
Create a chart tracking Lisa Carrington’s medals across different Olympic Games. Include columns for the year, event, and medal color (gold, silver, bronze). You can use stickers or drawings to represent the medals.