Dame Lisa Carrington's recent run of awards has continued this morning with the New Zealand Olympic Committee awarding her the Lonsdale Cup for a fourth time.
The Lonsdale Cup is awarded annually to a New Zealand athlete [or team] who has demonstrated the most outstanding contribution to an Olympic or Commonwealth sport during the previous year.
Needless to say with three World Championship golds in 2023, individually in the K1 200 and K1 500 as well as with teammates Alicia Hoskin, Tara Vaughan and Olivia Brett in the K4 500, it was a big year for the 34-year-old.
The Lonsdale Cup is awarded annually to a New Zealand athlete [or team] who has demonstrated the most outstanding contribution to an Olympic or Commonwealth sport during the previous year. (Source: 1News)
But there's a reason she continues to dominate on the water - and she proved it this morning.
The Lonsdale Cup patiently sat on a pedestal next to Takapuna's Lake Pupuke waiting for its winner while Carrington was out on the water training with her teammates.
After, and only after, finishing up for the morning did she accept the prize from NZOC Board Chair Diana Puketapu in a small ceremony on the lake's edge.
That isn't to say the award doesn't mean anything to Carrington.
"I think what's wicked about it is just all the names on it are really special people," Carrington said.
She's not wrong.
Given out annually since 1961 when it was first awarded to the late Sir Murray Halberg, some of New Zealand's best have gone on to win it as part of illustrious sporting careers - runner Sir Peter Snell, swimmer Anthony Mosse, cyclist Sarah Ulmer and fellow canoeist Ian Ferguson.
And Carrington now finds herself just one behind the record for most Lonsdale Cup wins, held by Dame Valerie Adams.
"She's incredible," Carrington said, adding she wasn't sure if she'd match her next year.
But the stage is set to do just that - an Olympic year well underway and Carrington spearheading what could be a historic campaign for New Zealand canoe racing.
New Zealand could take its largest Olympic canoe racing team ever to Paris after a golden 90 minutes last week at the Oceania Championships in Penrith saw three crews provisionally qualify six more quote spots for the Summer Games - including a second women's K2-500 crew thanks to the efforts of Aimee Fisher and Danielle McKenzie.
Carrington said the recent accolades, including this morning's cup as well as last week's Halberg Awards, and results were a reflection of what Canoe Racing New Zealand has built.
"It's happened slowly and it's really amazing," she said.
"It talks to the system as well - the people behind the scenes making the decisions so that those opportunities are there and keeping athletes in the sport."
Carrington and the Kiwi canoe crew are now preparing for the Australian National Championships next month in Sydney before heading away to Europe in May where they will stay until July's Olympics.
The long time away from New Zealand is a necessity in Carrington's eyes.
"It's been really great to be in locations that are really suitable for paddling and getting used to the climate over in Europe," she said.
"As much as I love being home, it is nice to really knuckle down without those distractions in the way."
No distractions - a mantra she lives by even when training on Lake Pupuke.
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