New Zealand triple Olympic medallist canoer Lisa Carrington says winning this year's Lonsdale Cup signifies the great year she had on and off the water.
Lisa Carrington Photo: Photosport
Carrington was awarded the cup after becoming the first New Zealand woman to win two medals at one games, when she won gold and a silver in the women's K1 200 and 500 metre sprints, to go with her gold from London in 2012.
The Lonsdale Cup is awarded to a New Zealand athlete that has achieved outstanding success throughout the year.
The 27-year-old said 2016 was one of her best years as an athlete.
"It's really nice to be recognised by the NZOC (Olympic Committee) and I guess the contribution on and off the water, so it's a real special thing to be awarded," Carrington said.
Carrington took two months off following the Rio Olympics, but has recently returned to the water to start her next four-year cycle, with the ambition of going to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
"If you're going to keep going it's kind of four more years, so yeah that's definitely something I want to strive for and ultimately I still have to jump through all the hoops to get there. But yeah, that's where I'm heading for."
Carrington said unlike fellow Olympic gold medallist, Hamish Bond, who was taking a break from rowing to focus on cycling, she wasn't interested in taking up another sport.
"It's not super apparent what sport, if I was to do something different, what that would be.
"I don't feel that sick of kayaking, so it's pretty easy for me to take a couple of months off then get back into it."
Despite winning the Lonsdale Cup, Carrington said she was unsure if it will equate to a Halberg Award, which was about the only trophy she hadn't won.
"Maybe, I don't know. I've kind of given up (hope). I feel like I'm the most nominated people (not to win it), we'll see what happens."
-RNZ