FOREWORD | LISA CARRINGTON

SEEK IMPROVEMENTANDENJOYMENT ALWAYS KEEP PUSHING

I WAS NOT SURE IF I COULD MAKE IT AS AN OLYMPIAN WHEN I WAS AT WHAKATĀNE HIGH SCHOOL. I GUESS IT WAS A PIPE DREAM REALLY BUT IT WAS AN ASPIRATIONAL AND ATHLETIC GOAL TO TRY AND REACH.

The key thing is to find the motivation to always do the best you can. Whether that may be in wanting to be an Olympian or a top athlete in the world or in New Zealand, or to be good enough to make your high school team. What is going to motivate you can be as simple as trying to be better tomorrow than you are today or having those big goals.

by DAME LISA CARRINGTON photo credit photosport.nz

I AM GRATEFUL

I PARTICIPATED IN A lot of TEAM SPORTS GROWING UP. I remember asking MY MUM WHY SPORT WAS SO IMPORTANT.

SHE SAID IT IS A REALLY GOOD WAY to

TEACH YOU HOW TO BE A good winner and GOOD LOSER.

I was quite a shy kid at school. It is definitely in my nature to stay in my comfort zone but I needed to navigate that shyness to get more confidence. It might have been going to the front of the class and speaking or turning up to a netball trial when I first got to high school, which was a bit scary. I realised I struggled with those little moments so I worked out if I pushed myself and my boundaries, it gave me a lot of satisfaction that I could do it and achieve something. I guess I have been pushing myself ever since on the world stage as a kayaker to keep improving and doing better. At high school I really loved PE. It was really important for me. My form teacher was a PE teacher and we started the day in the school gymnasium so it was cool to be able to be in that space and play games. My other favourite subject was science, particularly biology, which I found really interesting. I was not really sure what I was going to do after school so I tried to cover my bases and do subjects that would give me an opportunity when I got to university. Then in Year 13, I was selected to go to the Youth Olympics for New Zealand and after that, sport took over for me. I felt really proud to have the opportunity to wear the silver fern and represent my country. This was when I realised that maybe there was a future in it – being a kayaker on the international stage. I am grateful I participated in a lot of team sports growing up. I remember asking my mum why sport was so important. She said it is a really good way to teach you how to be a good winner and good loser. Try to enjoy every moment in what you are doing. It is all about learning from your experiences. Have fun!

Dame Lisa Carrington

International Kayaker

LISA CARRINGTON is New Zealand’s most successful Olympian, having won a staggering six Olympic medals (five gold, one bronze). In 2013, she was awarded an MBE and in the 2022 New Year’s Honours was promoted to Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to canoe racing.