Photo: Huia Publishing
As if our most decorated Olympian Dame Lisa Carrington has not done enough to inspire the up-and-coming generation, she is now poised to release her first children's book.
"It's something I've always really wanted to do, share the lessons or the things that I've learned along the way," she told RNZ's Afternoons.
Fresh off winning her eighth Olympic gold in Paris, next month Lisa Carrington Chases a Champion will hit the shelves. It will also be released as Ko Lisa Carrington me te Toa Whakaihuwaka, a version of the story told in te reo.
The idea for a children's book had been kicking around since the Tokyo Olympics, she said.
Olympian inspiration
"Three years ago, when we were sitting in MIQ after being in Tokyo at the Olympics, Huia Publishers got in touch with me and wondered if I wanted to collaborate with them in some way, and I was like, 'wow, this is my opportunity'."
The book was based on 8-year-old Lisa, she said.
"She's starting to believe in herself that she could achieve something, starting to have goals.
"The story talks about a challenge that happens, and how to keep turning back up, how to show up and stick to something."
The story also featured her family, Carrington said. "It's got my parents in it, my little dog Colin features, and my two older brothers. I'm really proud of how it's come together."
It was important to her for the book to be in English and te reo, she said.
"To be able to reach all children in New Zealand, and being Māori myself, I just wanted to make sure that that aspect was covered and paying tribute."
The illustrator had done a great job, she said. "I absolutely love these illustrations, so colourful, and they depict my parents so well, I love it."
Carrington won three gold medals at the Paris Olympics, taking her total to eight career Olympic gold medals.