Name etched on cup 4th time
New Zealand’s most decorated Olympian, Dame Lisa Carrington, has been awarded the NZ Olympic Committee’s Lonsdale Cup for her achievements in 2023.
It is the fourth time Carrington has received the cup, awarded annually to the athlete or team that has made the most outstanding contribution to an Olympic or Commonwealth sport.
In 2023, the sprint kayaker won three world championship titles, individually in the K1 200 and K1 500, as well as with teammates Alicia Hoskin, Tara Vaughan and Olivia Brett in the K4 500.
“Dame Lisa is truly a once-ina-generation athlete and we’re thrilled to award her the Lonsdale Cup following another standout year in 2023,” said NZOC board chairwoman Diana Puketapu.
“We’re extremely proud of her achievements and thank her for being a fantastic role model for young New Zealanders and especially young women.”
In thanking the Olympic Committee for the recognition, Carrington said having her name on the cup alongside some of New Zealand’s Olympic greats was pretty special.
“This really is a shared award and the success I have is only possible because of the work done behind the scenes by this team and by the team I share the boat with.”
At the Tokyo Olympic Games,
Carrington claimed a staggering three gold medals, taking her Olympic medal total to six, made up of five gold and one bronze.
The medal wins followed her success at previous Olympic Games.
She made her Olympic debut at London 2012 where she claimed gold in the K1 200. Four years later she defended her gold medal and also won bronze in the K1 500.
The Lonsdale Cup was first awarded in 1961, with Sir Murray Halberg the inaugural recipient.
Past winners include Dame Valerie Adams, Sir John Walker, Barbara Kendall, Sir Peter Snell and Zoi Sadowski Synnott.
Carrington previously won the award in 2016, 2017 and 2021.