Dame Lisa Carrington will miss this weekend's regatta in Hungary on medical advice. Photo / Brett Phibbs, NZ Herald

Medical advice sees Carrington withdraw from World Cup regatta

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Author: NZ Herald,
Publish Date: Fri, 8 May 2026, 4:56pm

Dame Lisa Carrington’s plans to compete in the opening Canoe Sprint World Cup regatta in Szeged, Hungary, this weekend have changed.

After receiving medical advice, the 36-year-old has withdrawn from his place in the K4 500m squad, being replaced by Aimee Fisher.

Fisher will compete alongside Olivia Brett, Greer Morley and Lucy Matehaere in the event.

“I was really looking forward to racing after all the work that’s gone into getting here, but for now my focus is on looking after my health,” Carrington said on Instagram.

“Everything’s ok – just a small change of plans.

“I’ll be cheering for the team and am looking forward to what’s ahead.”

Last month, Carrington announced she and husband Michael Buck are expecting their first child together.

In making the announcement, Carrington said she would not be finding out the sex of the baby before it is born.

The Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028 remain her competitive goal, and she still planned to race in the World Cups in Europe in May but would not be racing at the 2026 World Champs or for the rest of the year.

New Zealand’s most decorated Olympian, Carrington swept her three events at the Paris Olympics in 2024, bringing her gold medal count to eight, with wins in the K1 500m, K2 500m and K4 500m. Overall, Carrington is a nine-time Olympic medallist, with a bronze in the K1 500m in Rio in 2016.

The Herald has approached Canoe Racing NZ for clarification over whether Carrington’s withdrawal is from both the Hungary and Germany World Cups, or just this weekend’s regatta.

The New Zealand contingent will have nine athletes in action this weekend across six disciplines.

Fisher will compete in the women’s K1 500m as well as the women’s K4 500m with Brett, Morley and Matahere. Quaid Thompson will race in the men’s K1 1000m and K1 5000m.

James Munro and Kurtis Imrie, and Hamish Legarth and Grant Clancy will race in the men’s K2 500m, and will join forces for the men’s K4 500m.