Double Olympic gold medallist, Lisa Carrington, can’t wait to get out on the water in next month’s season-opening ICF World Cup sprint event in Montemor-o-Velho, Portugal.

The gold and bronze medallist from Rio, and gold medallist from London, gives the impression she really hates not competing. So while plenty of other Rio Olympic paddlers might be slowly easing themselves back into the fray, Carrington is raring to go.

She did take some time out after winning K1 200 gold and K1 500 bronze in Rio, but it felt strange.

“After the racing I felt a little lost and out of place because the thing I had been working towards for the last four years was over,” Carrington said this week. 

“So not training or preparing was not the normal. Once I processed the races in Rio and reflected on the last four years, I was able to rest and recover. 

“Although instantly once I had finished racing in Rio I knew I wanted to continue paddling.”

So when she took the time to look back on her performance, what was her overwhelming emotion? Especially since she had taken the decision to take on both the 200 and 500 events, after just focussing on the 200 in London.

“I under estimated how hard it would be, although the years building into Rio were super tough, I revelled in the challenge,” she said.

“I was really proud of my performances. It was something I had been working towards for the last four years, so to execute the way I did was all I could ask for.”

Not surprisingly, Carrington’s Olympic performance thrilled her native New Zealand. She had the honour of carrying the country’s flag at the Rio closing ceremony, and this year she was awarded the prestigious Halberg Award as New Zealand’s sportsperson of the year.

But if her opponents thought Carrington might be tempted to take a step back, they’re going to get a shock in Montemor-o-Velho.

She decided to attempt the 200 and 500 in Rio because she believed she could win double gold. She has the same belief about Tokyo.

“Yes I have to do it differently,” she said. 

“The same thing that motivated me for Rio is not the same thing that will motivate me for Tokyo. I learnt that doing the double is incredibly hard. 

“I learnt my experience from London helped me in Rio. I also learnt that while the Olympics is the biggest event it shouldn’t be the defining factor of who you are as a person and as an athlete.”

The ICF Canoe Sprint World Cup 1 begins on Friday, May 19.