lisa carrington

Dame Lisa Marie Carrington is a highly decorated New Zealand canoe sprint racer born on June 23, 1989, in Tauranga, New Zealand. She is recognized as New Zealand's most successful Olympian, having won nine Olympic medals, including eight gold and one bronze, across four consecutive Olympic Games. Carrington specializes in kayak sprint races, especially the 200- and 500-meter events. She is the first Māori woman to win an Olympic gold medal and is of Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki and Ngāti Porou descent. She started competitive paddling around 2006 after transitioning from surf lifesaving and has collected 15 world championship gold medals. Lisa Carrington holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in politics and Māori studies and a graduate diploma in psychology, and she is pursuing a master's degree in psychology. She is also notable for her advocacy of Māori heritage and sustainability. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, she won three gold medals in the K1 500 meters, K2 500 meters, and K4 500 meters, enhancing her record as one of the greatest canoeists in history. Off the water, Lisa has authored a bilingual children's book and is based in Auckland with her husband and dog. Carrington's athletic career is marked by multiple awards including the Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit and several Halberg Awards for Sportswoman of the Year and Sportswoman of the Decade honors.