Double gold star Lisa vowing to ‘let it all in’
woman, Carrington displayed that again yesterday, but admitted she felt “absolute joy” when she got confirmation from the results board. Then “it was sinking in more and more, and it’s quite emotional”.
There was an appropriately New Zealand touch about the medal ceremony, with three-time Olympic board sailing medallist Barbara Kendall, now a member of the International Olympic Committee, and Maree Burnett, New Zealand representative on the International Canoe Federation.
“Awesome,” Kendall told Carrington as she placed the coveted medal around her neck.
“The biggest thing is to let it all in, feel everything, enjoy it,” Carrington said after the ceremony. “Hopefully that is going to be a really good formula for me to get back grounded and get on with the job tomorrow.”
It has been a four-year project since the London win for Carrington and her coach Gordon Walker. But Carrington admitted, “I don’t like looking at it like that.
“It’s big, it’s four years complete commitment and coming off London my life changed quite rapidly. But being able to stay somewhat grounded, having great people around me, has been good.”
Parents, Glynis and Pat, and brothers Shaun and Brett were among a sea of Kiwi faces in the crowd, along with the women’s K4 crew and boyfriend Michael Buck.
“That’s really special, so many of the crowd were Kiwis. People came to watch me, I don’t know who they are; it’s just special.
“‘Bucky’ is a huge support for me. It was great for him to be here and my parents are not with me every day. But I know if I come last, they’ll support me the same.”
Carrington had an important period of training at Lake Banyoles in Spain in the weeks leading up to arriving in Rio.
She had company for part of that time from three of her Rio rivals. The fresh change in her training routine helped.
The peace and serenity of the situation was ideal. Carrington called it “a really good place, quite refreshing”.
Coming after an intensive training lead-up it provided just the end point she needed to reaffirm her place among the finest practitioners in her sport. United States Britain China Russia Germany Italy Netherlands France Australia Japan S Korea Hungary Spain
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