Carrington, Kerr lead New Zealand to best-ever Olympics
Hamish Kerr has lifted New Zealand to its best-ever Olympic gold medal haul, winning his country’s ninth event at the Paris Games.
It was fitting that the high jumper – who emerged victorious after a dramatic jump-off at the Stade de France – would raise the bar.
Saturday was New Zealand’s best-ever day at an Olympics, with Kerr’s gold coming after Lydia Ko triumphed in women’s golf.
However, the mighty haul was built on the back of canoeing legend, Lisa Carrington, who won her her third gold in Paris on Aotearoa’s super Saturday.
After combining in Kiwi boats for K4 and K2 gold, Carrington won the K1 to complete a flawless campaign on the water.
Carrington, made a Dame after a similar three-gold haul in Tokyo, now has an incredible eight gold across four Olympics.
Her Paris exploits confirmed her status not just as a Kiwi great, but as an all-time Olympic giant.
Only seven summer or winter Olympians in history have won more gold than Carrington, who even edges Simone Biles’ career haul of seven.
Underscoring her greatness, she has failed to win just one individual event across her four Olympics. That was in Rio, when she won bronze in the K1 500m.
The 35-year-old even hinted she may seek to paddle on in Los Angeles.
“It’s pretty enticing to continue after this one,” she said.
“It’s been a long journey and just constant pursuit of growth and learning.
“It’s a lot of pressure, expectations on myself and honestly I don’t know how I did it.
“It’s great to come away with a few great medals this weekend … I will just get home and see my dog and get grounded.”
Alicia Hoskin paired with Carrington for two golds, with Olivia Brett and Tara Vaughan joining for the K4 success.
Kerr won New Zealand’s first high jump medal after a nail-biting jump-off before sprinting into the middle of the stadium.
“I knew I had a good one in me, and I knew that if I could get it up sooner rather than later, then I could just finish the comp,” he said.
“If anything, I’m more fatigued from running on to the field than I am from the actual jumping, but I was so just happy that I’d won.”
Elsewhere, Ellesse Andrews won the women’s keirin at the velodrome, and in the water, Finn Butcher won the men’s kayak cross while Brooke Francis and Lucy Spoors claimed gold in the women’s double sculls.
The mighty Kiwi gold rush came after the team drew blanks on the opening three days of the Olympics.
Commentators back home mulled the prospect of an underwhelming Olympic campaign after watching the men’s rugby sevens team turfed out at the quarter-finals stage.
The women’s rugby sevens side saluted on day four for New Zealand’s first medal in France, celebrating with a haka.
Like Australia, which has also enjoyed its best Olympics for gold medals, New Zealand’s tally has been built on performances by female athletes, claiming seven of the nine gold.
NEW ZEALAND GOLD MEDALLISTS
* Women’s rugby sevens team
* Brooke Francis, Lucy Spoors – Rowing: women’s double sculls
* Finn Butcher – Canoeing: men’s kayak cross
* Olivia Brett, Lisa Carrington, Alicia Hoskin and Tara Vaughan – Canoeing: K4 500m
* Ellesse Andrews – Cycling – women’s keirin
* Lisa Carrington, Alicia Hoskin – Canoeing: K2 500m
* Lisa Carrington – Canoeing: K1 500 m
* Lydia Ko – Golf: women’s event
* Hamish Kerr – Athletics: men’s high jump
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