Carrington’s counting the cost
Retirement of fellow Olympic champion Regal leaves a major vacuum
Dame Lisa Carrington admits the retirement of fellow Olympic champion Caitlin Regal will leave a significant vacuum in canoe racing.
Regal announced on Thursday she was hanging up the paddle, five months after claiming K2 500m gold alongside Carrington at the Tokyo Olympics.
It was the first time New Zealand had claimed a team kayaking medal at the Games since 1988. The duo were also world champions in 2017.
Regal won several other medals at that level and also set a world record for the K1 500m in 2015.
“She is such an incredible athlete, so it’s really sad to see her go,” said Carrington yesterday. “She made such a huge contribution to sport, to my performances [and] canoe racing.
“There’s not many people out there that are as amazing as she is on the water. There’ll be a big gap. But that’s sport, you just have to keep working hard.”
Carrington and Regal have shared a strong bond, especially since 2017.
“We’ve trained together quite closely for the last five years and you look back and that’s a huge chunk of my career,” said Carrington. “So to have someone right next to me all the time, we’re pushing each other training — that’s a huge impact.
“So she played a massive role in that performance, and just the shaping of our programme. What’s great is she will be recognised for how much she put in. Sport is something you can’t do forever and it’s so brave of her to step into the next thing.”
Carrington was speaking after being awarded the Lonsdale Cup, presented annually to the team or athlete that has made the most outstanding contribution to an Olympic or Commonwealth sport.
Her deeds in Tokyo, with three gold medals, made her a certainty for the honour, which she claimed for a third time.
Carrington was humbled to receive the award, which dates back to 1962, as she looked at inscriptions which feature Sir Murray Halberg, Sir Peter Snell, Sarah Ulmer and Dame Valerie Adams.
“It’s nice to be recognised for a big Olympics, after not necessarily having the welcome home from Tokyo due to going into lockdown.
“And I look at this and [see] such amazing sportspeople. That is probably what’s so special about this award, just being having my name alongside them.”
Carrington enjoyed an extended period in Ō hope with family but is now fully back in training ahead of the national championships in April.
A longer-term objective is the world championships in Canada in August.
“That is the goal but obviously there are a few hurdles until April,” said Carrington.
The 32-year-old also paid tribute to rower Hamish Bond after experiencing three Olympic campaigns with the triple gold medallist who also confirmed his retirement on Thursday.
“I remember my first Olympics in London [2012] and being in the crowd watching them win their gold medal, and then a week later, me winning the same.
“To think we both shared that gold medal was really special. To be an athlete while someone like him has been at the top of his career [was] really special,” she said.