New Zealanders Lisa Carrington and Alicia Hoskin destroyed the hopes of some of the best paddlers in the world with their extraordinary win in the women’s canoe sprint K2 500 final.
The New Zealanders led from the first stroke and won by the incredible margin of 2.11s. This in a sport where hundredths or even thousands of a second decide placings. As if to prove the point, one of the Hungarian crews and Germany tied for third place, even after the time was taken to thousandths of a second.
For Carrington, who has compiled a record in her sport that compares with any of the world-famous greats of other sports, it was a seventh Olympic gold medal stretching back over four Olympics. Hoskin, who was part of the New Zealand women’s K4 500 who won gold yesterday (along with Carrington) now joins the elite club of New Zealanders with more than one Olympic gold in their collection.
Carrington and Hoskin won in a time of 1min 37.28s and there was clear water back to the second-placed Germans, who finished in 1min 39.39s. These races are often decided by a fingertip as boats flash over the line.
After leading at the halfway point, the New Zealanders went into overdrive and no crew could live with them. It was as comprehensive a gold medal victory as could ever be imagined.
The two New Zealanders qualified for the final earlier in the day by winning their semi-final, but not in the same devastating showing as they displayed in the final.
Carrington said on the morning of the race she was super-nervous because she knew what it took to put together a winning performance in a final.
"But we had the courage to lean on each other and the team. It was scary and nerve-racking, but knowing our preparation together, there's no-one else I'd rather do it with."
She said they stuck with their strategy and strengths, but conceded it was amazing they could pull out a performance like that.
Carrington said that crossing the line her immediate emotion wasn't joy or relief but that it was "so cool that we could do it together".
Hoskin said they had a definite plan and had to trust their process and preparation.
"When the body started hurting we had to trust our technique and preparation. A lot of heart went into that and we had a really good time together."
The windy conditions were challenging, but Hoskin said they'd prepared for that in training. "Training on Lake Pupuke in the winter, we paddled in strong winds, crosswinds, tailwinds. We were ready."
In the men’s K2 500 semi-final, New Zealanders Kurtis Imrie and Hamish Legarth finished seventh and then turned in a solid performance to finish sixth in the B final, or 14th overall.
Carrington and Aimee Fisher will tomorrow compete in the semi-finals, and hopefully final, of the women's K1 500.