Carrington to keep ‘forging new boundaries’

EYES ON THE PRIZE: Lisa Carrington shows the focus that has been rewarded with Olympic gold medals, world titles and now the Supreme Halberg and Sportswomen of the Year awards. Carrington’s family on her father Patrick’s side are from Gisborne. Grandfather Maurice and his brothers Eddie and Bill played rugby for Poverty Bay, with Bill and Eddie becoming Maori All Blacks. Her great-grandfather Karaitiana Carrington founded the GMC club. She is of Rongowhakaata, Ngati Porou, Te Aitanga a Mahaki and Rongomaiwahine descent. NZ Herald picture

AUCKLAND — For five years Lisa Carrington has sat silently while another name was read out as New Zealand Sportswoman of the Year.

Not this year.

The 27-year-old canoeist capped a superb 12 months by receiving the Supreme Halberg and Sportswoman of the Year awards for her efforts in Rio.

Carrington became the first female Kiwi Olympian to win multiple medals in a single Games by snaring gold in the K1 200 metres sprint and bronze in the 500m.

The Tauranga native has been near-untouchable in the 200m for more than five years, having won gold in London and four consecutive world championships.

But she has been constantly overlooked for Sportswoman of the Year, with others such as golf No.1 Lydia Ko and shot putter Dame Valerie Adams triumphant.

Carrington said the near-misses made it especially satisfying to complete her trophy cabinet with Kiwi sport’s highest individual awards.

“It’s been a really tough but enjoyable four years from London to now,” Carrington said.

“It’s quite nice to have your name called, sitting there quite nervous, heart rate going up.”

Carrington joins a genuine who’s who of Kiwi sports stars to earn the Supreme Halberg, including Adams, Rob Waddell, Peter Snell and the All Blacks.

She beat out fellow gold medallists Mahe Drysdale and sailing pair Peter Burling and Blair Tuke, as well as paralympian Liam Malone, for the 2016 gong.

The evening was made even sweeter for Carrington by mentor Gordon Walker’s victory in the Coach of the Year stakes.

“He works incredibly hard to allow me to get where I want to go,” Carrington said.

“Looking at the trophy and the names on the trophy is amazing, and it’s great to be a part of that history. It makes the prestige all the more.”

Carrington is set to get back onto the water in preparation for this year’s world championships and the Commonwealth Games in 2018.

She will continue to compete in the 200m and 500m K1 sprints and is keen to find new ways to improve.

“It’s really hard to stay at the top but you have to keep forging new boundaries and paths,” Carrington said.

“That’s all we’re trying to do, push our physiology and mental skills to get better all the time, and all you can do is hope you are.” — NZME