This showdown promises to be one of the highlights of the 2024 Paris Olympics, pitting the well-established and much-loved champion against the determined rising star.
Dame Lisa Carrington, 34, has long been queen of the water. With multiple gold medals and world champion titles to her name, her dominance in canoe racing events is legendary. She is our most successful Olympic athlete (five golds and one bronze medal over three Games) and a Halberg Awards winner many times over. Her incredible work ethic coupled with unparalleled skill have made her an inspiration to many.
One of those may just be her biggest rival. Chasing at her paddles is Aimee Fisher, who, though less known, has rapidly emerged as a formidable rival.
The battle between the teammates has intensified over the past year, with the two athletes exchanging victories in various competitions. Their most recent clash at the national championships saw Aimee narrowly edging out Lisa in the K1 500m by an agonisingly close 0.05 of a second, setting the stage for an exciting Olympic rematch.
Aimee’s journey to the top has been somewhat unconventional. After stepping away from the canoe programme before the Tokyo Games following disagreements about the approach, the 29-year-old sprint canoeist returned with renewed focus and vigour in 2023.
“It means so much,” she says. “It’s been turbulent at times – there’s been some low points – but I wouldn’t change a thing. I love who I’m becoming walking through this fire. I’m excited to see who I can be on the other side of the Olympics. You know the pressure is on and every day matters. It’s white-hot pressure and you just keep walking forward.”
And Aimee is well aware of just how tough Lisa is to beat, especially on an Olympic stage.
“We have raced so many times now that it comes down to centimetres. You have to just treat every stroke with respect because you know she’s going to be right there,” says Aimee.
While Lisa’s accolades have made her a national icon, Aimee’s underdog status has captured the imagination of Kiwis. Their contrasting styles, competitive drive and mutual respect make this “battle of the best” a thrilling chapter for sports fans who can’t wait to find out how the story ends.
Watch Lisa and Aimee compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics exclusively with Sky Sport.
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