Eight-time Olympic champion Lisa Carrington has put her holiday plans on hold to compete at the 2025 International Canoe Federation Canoe Sprint World Championships as she aims to inspire New Zealand to glory in Milan.
Carrington revealed that she was due to fly to Tahiti for a holiday after deciding not to race on the international circuit in 2025.
However, the 36-year-old was drafted into the team, replacing Olivia Brett who was forced to pull out through injury.
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“I feel for Liv,” said Carrington.
“I have replaced her in the four.
“She had to go home with an injury.
“I’m definitely paddling with her here (in my mind) and the girls have done amazing work.
“I came over just under three weeks ago so jumping into the four was super cool. I love charging along and I was able to come in and do my job.
“I was going to go on holiday.
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“I was one day into my holiday when I got a call from our coach Gordi (Gordon Walker) but that’s okay, we just had to delay our trip for another month, but this is where I am and this is where I want to be.
“I was going to go to Tahiti but a number of events have got me here.”
Carrington linked up with Alicia Hoskin, Tara Vaughan and Lucy Matehaere as New Zealand topped their heat to go directly into the women’s kayak four 500m final.
“I didn’t think I was going to be as nervous as I was out there,” said Carrington, who will also team up with Vaughan in the women’s kayak double 500m.
“I was pretty nervous but it was so good to do it in the K4.”
In the men’s K4 500m, Spain put down the fastest time, clocking 1:21.33 to advance to the final as in-form Hungary and reigning Olympic and world champions Germany placed second and fourth respectively in a stacked heat.
“This is our first race together so it was quite nice to start like this,” said Spain’s Adrian Del Rio.
“We still feel we can improve over the first 100m and we will focus on this to do better.
“We are very motivated to do a very good race in the final.”
Czechia’s Martin Fuksa was strong over 500m and 1000m in the men’s canoe single as he chases more titles.
The Paris 2024 Olympic gold medallist is back competing in Milan – 10 years after winning his first world title in the Italian city.
He is a multiple gold medallist, but he is aiming to do the double at a World Championships for the first time.
“I’m really happy to be here again,” said Fuksa.
“I looked a little different back then to now, a bit older with more skills and I feel better prepared than 10 years ago.
“So many things have changed. I’m not a young gun anymore and now I am like a matador in the C1 so I must do good results and there is more stress for me but I am happy.”
New Zealand’s Aimee Fisher is also seeking to do the double in Milan as she moved through the gears to progress in the women’s K1 500m and 1000m.
Fisher, who suffered the heartbreak of missing out on an Olympic medal in Paris last year, sealed top spot in both of her heats.
In the men’s K1 1000m, Hungary’s Balint Kopasz looked in good shape as he secured his spot in the semi-finals with a time of 3:31.59.
Reigning Olympic champion Josef Dostal of Czechia will join Kosasz in the next stage as he ranked second behind Australia’s Thomas Green, while South Africa’s Hamish Lovemore and Individual Neutral Athlete (AIN) Uladzislau Kravats were also among those to advance.
In the women’s canoe double 500m, China’s Mengya Sun and Yanan Ma, Canada’s Katie Vincent and Zoe Wojtyk and Spain’s Angels Moreno and Vikotiia Yarchevska topped their respective heats to move into the final.
Full coverage of the ICF Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe World Championships can be viewed on the Planet Canoe YouTube channel.
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