Aimee Fisher and Lisa Carrington embrace after a race in New Zealand. Photo: Photosport
Olympic champion Lisa Carrington has been beaten by fellow New Zealander Aimee Fisher in the lead-up to the Paris Games.
Fisher pipped Carrington by 0.33 seconds to win the K1 500m at the latest canoe sprint World Cup in Hungary.
Fisher, who walked from the New Zealand team in the lead-up to the Tokyo Olympics because of an internal dispute, announced her return to the big stage with an incredible finishing burst to relegate Olympic and world champion Carrington to a silver medal.
"When I was lining up, I just wanted to be courageous, and I wanted to paddle beautifully, and light up my own lane," Fisher said.
"And I think I did that. I didn't panic, I stayed calm. I could hear everyone cheering us on, I could hear my name being called, I felt like I could hear everyone back home, and it was like there was this love pulling me to the finish line.
"There were definitely some tears afterwards. It was a really special moment. It's been tough, I feel like I have walked through fire at times, but it's transformed me as a person and as an athlete. It's been a good ride."
Aimee Fisher will compete at the Paris Olympics. Photo: Photosport
Both paddlers went under the previous world best time and the race in Hungary may have been a preview to this year's Olympic final, with both Carrington and Fisher on the New Zealand Olympic team and both expected to race in the K1 500 in Paris.
Belgium's Hermien Peters took the bronze.
The second Canoe Sprint World Cup will be held in Poznan, Poland, in a fortnight.