Fisher adopts fearless mantra
Aimee Fisher says she wants to race for Olympic gold without fear.
The New Zealand paddler looks on track for a final showdown with fellow Kiwi and Olympic superstar Lisa Carrington after they both convincingly won their women’s K1 500 canoe sprint heats on Wednesday night.
Fisher, who withdrew from selection consideration for the Tokyo Olympics due to athlete welfare concerns, won her heat in a time of 1.49.16.
Carrington went even quicker in winning her heat in 1.48.51, as the New Zealand duo easily advanced to tomorrow’s semifinals, which begin at 8.30pm NZ time, with the final to be raced at 11pm (NZ time) at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“I guess I wanted to go into that race with joy and courage – that's actually been one of my long-term goals, to have been able to race [that way] at the Olympics,” Fisher said shortly after her race.
“I’m afraid, you know, there can always be a lot of fear out there and that’s just not how I want to race.”
The Kiwi duo are favoured to battle out for gold, after both looked sharp in their two World Cup regatta displays in Europe earlier this season, with Fisher finishing narrowly in front each time over the 500m distance.
Their two biggest rivals could come from heat six, where Hungary’s Tamara Csipes headed off Denmark’s Emma Aastrand Jorgensen in 1:50.21. That duo took the minor medals behind Carrington in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics final.
“I’m really happy with how that went,” Fisher said.
“Now a couple of days off and then Saturday, the big showdown. I’ve done every single thing I possibly could. I’ve left no stone unturned and the work’s done and I just wanna light up my lane and see what I can do.
“I’m covered with a lot of love and support … I’ve got a lot of people here in the grandstands and back home and I’m just gonna race for them. I felt strong, calm and confident.”
Carrington told Sky Sport that even at her fourth Olympics, she still felt the nerves.
The 35-year-old, who has five Olympic gold medals and a bronze, is contesting three events and is also a big chance of victory in the K2 500 and K4 500 classes.
“I don’t think it ever gets easier. It’s the pinnacle of our sport, so being here is a privilege and the nerves are still there. I still feel alive.’’