It's bound to happen when your siblings are household names, I've done it in articles myself. It's a newsworthy angle but I think we should also celebrate all that Lisa has achieved in her own right.
I first wrote about Lisa when I spotted her playing able-bodied rugby for the Waikite women's team. I thought it made for a nice story, the way her cerebral palsy meant she had to teach herself to play by favouring one side of her body.
This was before I knew who her siblings were, so perhaps I've always held a different perspective and only seen Lisa as an athlete.
But let's look at what she has done in the last few years. Just three years ago, she had what she called "a muck around" with a shot put. She showed some promise and decided to give it a proper crack.
In the years since, I have watched Lisa put her absolute all into improving in the sport. She has certainly done that. Her humble attitude and unique sense of humour have never left her but her preparation has become a lot more professional.
Lisa is now the world and Paralympic champion. After just three years of competing, she now holds New Zealand, Oceania, Paralympic and world records.
Being coached by a sister as successful as Valerie comes with great pressure. Comparisons are inevitable. However, Lisa has never seemed to let that affect her. The bond between the two sisters is unbreakable and they have the world at their feet.
While Valerie's contribution is clearly valuable, it is Lisa who has put in the hours upon hours of training.
It is Lisa who has stepped into that throwing circle at every competition she has entered and produced a winning performance.
In my opinion, she is one of New Zealand's true sporting icons, purely for what she has achieved, and irrespective of what her last name is.
