Kayaking: Lisa Carrington powering towards double win in Rio

Lisa Carrington says she seems to be getting better and stronger as she gets older. Photo / NZME

All Lisa Carrington's planning towards a tilt at double gold at next year's Rio Olympics came to fruition in Milan in August.

It was one thing to carry on her relentless domination of the K1 200m sprint class. After all, she's been unbeaten at that discipline since stunning the kayaking world with victory at the 2011 worlds.

But the 26-year-old's steady rise in the longer class - bronze in 2013, silver last year, gold in Milan - puts her firmly on course to follow the likes of Peter Snell, Danyon Loader, Ian Ferguson and Paul MacDonald as a multiple champion at one Olympic Games.

In Milan, the Auckland-based Bay of Plenty paddler started off by successfully defending the 200m crown in 40.060s, 0.64s clear of regular rival, Poland's Marta Walczykiewicz.

She broke clear in her second final, the 500m, and was in charge with 150m left. When the chasers closed in, Carrington was able to pull clear to win in 1min 49.398, 1.727s ahead of Hungary's Anna Karasz.

Carrington became only the second non-European to win the 500m title, after Canada's Caroline Brunet from 1997-99.

Having two events to work on keeps the competitive juices flowing, Carrington has said. "It's all about keeping the challenge and trying to get better and better every year and every day," she said. "It's allowed me to become a better paddler and, as I get older, I seem to get ... stronger and work on more things."

Her first challenge next year may come from close to home with Teneale Hatton, a former K1 1000m and 5000m world champion, back after a year out. Hatton beat Carrington in a recent regatta over 500m and is eyeing that spot in Rio.

The domestic rivalry promises a fascinating lead-in to Rio. But if Carrington lines up in the two events there the indications are pointing towards a special achievement in the pipeline for one of the country's finest athletes.