Olympic Kayaker Targets 5th Games While Expecting First Child
New Zealand's most decorated Olympian, Lisa Carrington, announced she's pregnant with her first child and still plans to compete at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The eight-time gold medalist will race in May's World Cups before taking time off for her late September due date.
At 36 years old and expecting her first baby, Olympic kayaking legend Lisa Carrington just proved that motherhood and athletic dreams don't have to be mutually exclusive.
The New Zealand sprint kayaker, who has won eight Olympic gold medals across four Games, shared the joyful news on social media Wednesday that she and her husband Michael Buck are expecting. Her due date is late September, and she's already planning her return to the water with Los Angeles 2028 firmly in her sights.
Carrington isn't slowing down just yet. She plans to compete in the World Cup races in Europe this May before welcoming her baby, though she'll skip the World Championships to focus on a healthy pregnancy.
If she reaches LA28, it will mark her fifth Olympic Games. She would once again chase individual gold, adding to a legacy that already stands alone in Olympic history.
Carrington holds a record no other athlete in any sport can claim: three consecutive Olympics with three gold medals each. She achieved this remarkable feat at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024, cementing her status as one of the greatest Olympians of all time.
Why This Inspires
For years, female athletes have faced an unspoken choice between peak performance and starting a family. Carrington's announcement challenges that outdated narrative with grace and determination.
She's not just competing while pregnant or rushing back postpartum. She's thoughtfully planning her competition schedule, prioritizing her health and her baby's wellbeing, while keeping her athletic goals alive.
Other Olympic mothers have blazed this trail before her, from Allyson Felix to Serena Williams, each one normalizing the idea that women can be both elite athletes and parents. Carrington joins this inspiring group, showing the next generation of athletes that they don't have to choose.
Her journey over the next two years will inspire countless women, both in sports and beyond, who've been told they can't have it all.
New Zealand's greatest Olympian is about to add her most important title yet: Mom.
Based on reporting by Google News - Olympic Medal
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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