Jaimee Lovett

A Youth Olympian in 2007, Jaimee Lovett waited patiently for nine years to finally graduate to the full Olympic Games. 
 
Raised in Whakatane, a year older than her friend and clubmate Lisa Carrington, Lovett qualified for Rio de Janeiro with the women's K4 boat that also features Caitlin Ryan, Aimee Fisher and Kayla Imrie. 
 
The quartet had a breakthrough year in 2015 under Danish-born coach Rene Olsen, winning the K4 500m at the World Cup round in Portugal and making the final at the world championships in Milan.  

Like Carrington, Ngati Raukawa-descendant Lovett came into kayaking through surf lifesaving, firstly with the Whakatane club and then with Mount Maunganui.