Waiting for the gun to go in the middle of Lake Karapiro, Dame Lisa Carrington and Aimee Fisher held an accord.
The duo – one the World Champion canoe sprinter, the other the Olympic gold medallist – were about to have a must-win match for the lone Kiwi spot at the World Championships in Canada later this year.
“We were out on the start line. We had a little moment out there. Basically, it was just do your thing. You know this makes us both faster, it’s just good,” Fisher said, recalling the intimate conversation between the rivals.
It was the final of three nail-biting races held in the Waikato this week. Carrington, the gold medallist, was the victor – winning the final two races each by under a second.
The canoeists settled the latest chapter of their rivalry on the water but there's still plenty of ripples to come. (Source: 1News)
Then after the race, the pair got out of their canoes and hugged on the dais before talking to their support teams. Fisher then had a long hug with one of her crew, before gulping back breaths, readying herself to talk to the waiting media scrum.
“It’s all good,” she said, reassuring everyone around her.
“Look, she was spectacular,” Fisher said of Carrington, again seemingly to reassure those standing around her that it was OK for her to lose the series.
Carrington proved she is still the best and will represent NZ in the K1 500 at the World Champs. (Source: 1News)
“It is a privilege to be part of a contest this intense. You know, I can’t even describe how I felt before the race, all the nerves, the sleepless nights.
“She’s brought out the best in me. I think we bring out the best in each other. It’s a pretty epic battle. You know, I would say that series would be some of the racing of the decade.”
Carrington, in an interview with 1News, seemed to parrot Fisher.
“I just know we need each other.
“We have had tight racing, and we need each other to go faster.”
While Carrington has been part of High Performance Sport NZ, Fisher has been training on her own for a couple of years, and there has been conjecture around whether Fisher should be back in the fold.
Fisher was clear she’d be staying where she was.
“I love my team and the environment I am in. I think I will be staying there. Yep,” Fisher responded.
Carrington was supportive of Fisher’s decision and expected both of them to feature at the Paris Olympics in 2024.
“The way Aimee is tracking – she is an incredible competitor.
“She has done so well in the last few years on her own.
“She has just got to do what’s best for her. That’s her focus and that’s awesome.”
READ MORE: Carrington wins thrilling canoe sprint decider against Fisher
Carrington’s coach, Gordon Walker, said the past week had been a mental test for Carrington.
He was glad Carrington lost the first race, as it gave her time to lean into cultivating her internal conversations. These were a set of races where nothing was won except a spot at the championships.
“At the end of the day it was about being courageous. If she was to back off at any point, she was gone,” Walker said.
“It was about finding language in herself that she was brave.”
When it comes to whether Fisher should be back training within High Performance NZ, he reckons Fisher has found what ticks for her, but is hopeful for what the future may hold.
“From her perspective, she’d be thinking about what’s best for her," he said.
“But the chance to see [Carrington and Fisher] in a boat together again would be amazing, for sure.”
But for now it is about getting Carrington ready for Canada.
“I’d like to think there’s another second she can improve on in the next few months.”
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