Dame Lisa Carrington adds another accolade to her resume

Dame Lisa Carrington has picked up her fair share of silverware during a glittering career on the water.

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So much, in fact, she sometimes forgets others want to share in her spoils.

“It’s like when I went home over Christmas to see my parents.

“I was going to leave without taking my medals for them. I completely forgot they hadn’t seen them or [the rest of] my family.

“I guess it will be nice to share that.”

The six-time Olympic medallist, who won three gold medals at last year’s Tokyo Games, picked up the New Zealand Olympic Committee’s top award for a third time on Friday.

The Lonsdale Cup success came as Carrington confirmed she had a fourth Olympics in her sights.

Carrington also picked up the Cup in 2016 and 2017, but said it was still a special honour to receive.

“I look at this [Cup] and I see Sir Murray Halberg, Sarah Ulmer, [Dame] Valerie Adams, such amazing sportspeople.

“That’s probably what’s so special about this award, having my name alongside theirs.”

According to NZOC president Mike Stanley, Carrington absolutely deserved her place among the country’s sporting legends.

And not just for her on-water success.

“She’s a wonderful role model for young woman, but she’s also very active in getting around to the communities she’s lived in but also around New Zealand and making herself available and talking about her experiences.”

Those experiences now included three Olympic Games, where she had paddled herself into history.

After winning gold at the London 2012 Games and a gold and bronze haul from Rio in 2016, the three gold medals she collected last year made her New Zealand’s most successful ever Olympian.

And the 32-year-old was not done yet.

If selected for the national team in April, it would mark the start of Carrington’s pathway towards what she hoped will be a fourth trip to the world’s biggest sporting event.

“You never know with the way the world is at the moment.

“We have World Champs in August in Canada. I guess that’s the goal but I’ve got a few hurdles of selection and that type of thing.”

Hurdles Carrington had more than proved she was capable of clearing.