Munich 1972
Donald Cooper, Thomas Dooney
Don Cooper and Tom Dooney became the sport’s first Olympians, racing in the men’s K2 1000m, with Don also racing in the K1 1000m event, where he advanced to the semifinals.
Montreal 1976
Donald Cooper, Ian Ferguson, Rodney Gavin, John Leonard
Ian Ferguson made his Olympic debut in the MK1 500m in 1976, the first of five Olympics that he would go on to attend. Don Cooper progressed to the semis in K1 1000m, and Rod Gavin and John Leonard paired up for K2 500m and K2 1000m.
Moscow 1980
Ian Ferguson, Alan Thompson, Geoffrey Walker
Three canoers made up the four New Zealand athletes who defied the western boycott and competed as independents at the 1980 Moscow Olympics. Ferguson made the K1 500 and K1 1000 finals where he finished 7th and 8th respectively. Thompson and Walker also progressed to K2 1000m finals, finishing 8th.
Los Angeles 1984
Grant Bramwell, Ian Ferguson, Robert Jenkinson, Paul MacDonald, Edwin Richards, Alan Thompson
Medals: 4x Gold
Ian Ferguson, Paul MacDonald, Alan Thompson and Grant Bramwell won four gold medals between them in the K1 500, K1 1000, K2 500 and K4 1000 – the only New Zealand sport ever to achieve such an accomplishment at a single Games and topping the Canoe Sprint medal table. Ferguson was the first Kiwi to win two golds on a single day and three golds in a single Olympics.
Seoul 1988
Brent Clode, Grant Bramwell, Ian Ferguson, John MacDonald, Paul MacDonald, Stephen Richards, Alan Thompson
Medals: 1x Gold, 1x Silver, 1x Bronze
Ferguson and Paul MacDonald retained their K2 500 olympic title, as well as winning a silver in the K2 1000. Paul MacDonald also won a bronze medal in the K1 500m, securing his place in the record books as a 5-time Olympic medalist.
Ferguson was honoured as Flag Bearer of the New Zealand Olympic Team at the Opening Ceremony.
Watch: Ian Ferguson and Paul MacDonald win K2 500 Gold, Seoul 1988
Barcelona 1992
Richard Boyle, Ian Ferguson, John MacDonald, Paul MacDonald, Finn O’Connor, Stephen Richards, Mark Scheib
Ian Ferguson and Paul MacDonald proved age was no barrier as they advanced into the K2 1000m finals, finishing 8th. John MacDonald made the semi finals in both the K1 500m and 1000m while the K4 (Boyle, O’Connor, Richards & Scheib) made the 1000m semi finals.
Athens 2004
Steven Ferguson, Ben Fouhy
Medals: 1x Silver
In 2004 Ben Fouhy became New Zealand’s 5th Olympic medal winner when he won a silver medal in the K1 1000m at the Athens Games. Fouhy and Steven Ferguson, son of kayaking great Ian, paired up in the K2 1000m and finished 8th in the final.
Beijing 2008
Steven Ferguson, Ben Fouhy, Erin Taylor, Mike Walker
In 2008, Erin Taylor became the first female flatwater kayaker from New Zealand to compete at the Olympic Games. She progressed to the semis in the K1 500m.
Fouhy finished in 4th place in the K1 1000m finals, while Ferguson and Mike Walker were 5th in the K2 1000m final.
London 2012
Lisa Carrington, Steven Ferguson, Darryl Fitzgerald, Ben Fouhy, Teneale Hatton, Erin Taylor
Medals: 1x Gold
At her debut Olympics, Lisa Carrington won the women’s K1 200m final, bringing home the coveted gold medal. Carrington and Taylor were 7th in the K2 500m event, and Teneale Hatton finished 15th in the K1 500m.
In the men’s racing, Darryl Fitzgerald and Steven Ferguson were 7th in their K2 1000m final. and Ben Fouhy was 14th in the K1 1000m in his 3rd and final Olympic games.
Rio 2016
Lisa Carrington, Aimee Fisher, Kayla Imrie, Jaimee Lovett, Scott Martlew (Paralympian), Marty McDowell, Caitlin Ryan
Medals: 1x Gold, 1x Bronze
In Rio, Lisa Carrington made history by becoming the first NZ woman to win multiple medals in the same Olympic Games. She won gold in the K1 200m and then bronze in the K1 500m. A NZ women’s K4 competed at the Olympic Games for the first time, achieving 5th place in the 500m event.
Canoe sprint was introduced to the Paralympic Games programme in Rio, with Scott Martlew representing NZ in the KL3 200m. He placed 8th in the final.
Tokyo 2020 (2021)
Max Brown, Lisa Carrington, Corbin Hart (Paralympian), Teneale Hatton, Alicia Hoskin, Kurtis Imrie, Scott Martlew (Paralympian), Caitlin Regal,
Medals: 3x Gold
The 2020 Olympics in Tokyo were delayed due to the Covid 19 Pandemic, being held a year later in August 2021 but this did not deter the kiwi kayakers. Lisa Carrington achieved the incredible K1 200m and K1 500m double, winning her 3rd and 4th gold medals, including her 3rd consecutive in the K1 200m. Lisa paired up with Caitlin Regal (nee Ryan) in the K2 500m and together they claimed gold in a world-best time. This 3rd gold medal of the games made Lisa Carrington the most successful NZ Olympian of all time (6 medals- 5 gold and 1 bronze). Lisa and Caitlin teamed up with Alicia Hoskin and Teneale Hatton in the K4 500m and finished in 4th place.
A standout performance of the games was the mens K2 pair, Kurtis Imrie and Max Brown, who powered to a stunning 5th place in the final, well exceeding expectations.
In the 2020 Paralympics, Scott Martlew was 4th in the KL2 200m final, before finishing 8th in the VL3 200m final. Corbin Hart was 13th in the KL3 200m at his first games.
Paris 2024
Olivia Brett, Max Brown, Lisa Carrington, Grant Clancy, Peter Cowan (Paralympian), Aimee Fisher, Alicia Hoskin, Kurtis Imrie, Hamish Legarth, Lucy Matehaere, Scott Martlew (Paralympian), Tara Vaughan
Medals: 3x Gold
Paris 2024 was one of the most successful campaigns in the history of New Zealand kayaking with the team bringing home an impressive haul of three gold medals and establishing historic new milestones. For the first time ever, NZ had both a men’s and women’s K4 competing. Both advanced through to the A-final with the women’s team winning gold and the men’s team finishing 8th.
Lisa Carrington and Alicia Hoskin won gold in their K2 500m A final, with a commanding 2-second margin of victory, before Lisa Carrington went on to win her 8th Olympic Gold medal when she won the WK1 500m on the final day of racing. Aimee Fisher finished 4th, an incredible feat having two kiwi’s in an Olympic final. Read more…
At the 2024 Paralympic Games, Peter Cowan won NZ’s first paracanoe Paralympic medal when he secured bronze in the VL3 200m A final. Scott Martlew raced at his 3rd Paralympic Games and finished 5th in the KL2 200m and 12th in the VL3 200m.
Donald Cooper 1972
Thomas Dooney 1972
Ian Ferguson 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992; 4 gold, 1 silver
Rodney Gavin 1976
John Leonard 1976
Alan Thompson 1980, 1984, 1988; 2 gold
Geoffrey Walker 1980
Grant Bramwell 1984, 1988; 1 gold
Robert Jenkinson 1984
Paul MacDonald 1984, 1988, 1992; 3 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze
Edwin Richards 1984
Brent Clode 1988
John MacDonald 1988, 1992
Stephen Richards 1988, 1992
Richard Boyle 1992
Finn O’Connor 1992
Mark Scheib 1992
Steven Ferguson 2004, 2008, 2012
Ben Fouhy 2004, 2008, 2012; 1 silver
Mike Walker 2008
Erin Taylor 2008, 2012
Lisa Carrington 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024; 8 gold, 1 bronze
Teneale Hatton 2012, 2020
Darryl Fitzgerald 2012
Marty McDowell 2016
Jaimee Lovett 2016
Kayla Imrie 2016
Caitlin Ryan 2016, 2020; 1 gold
Aimee Fisher 2016, 2024
Scott Martlew 2016, 2020, 2024 (Paralympian)
Alicia Hoskin 2020, 2024; 2 gold
Kurtis Imrie 2020, 2024
Max Brown 2020, 2024
Corbin Hart 2020 (Paralympian)
Olivia Brett 2024; 1 gold
Tara Vaughan 2024; 1 gold
Lucy Matehaere 2024
Grant Clancy 2024
Hamish Legarth 2024
Peter Cowan 2024; 1 bronze (Paralympian)
In 1985 Ian Ferguson was made a Member Of The British Empire in the New Year Honours for his services and achievements in canoeing. Paul MacDonald has also been awarded an MBE.
In 2005 Ben Fouhy was made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit
In 2013 Lisa Carrington was awarded a New Years Honour and was appointed to the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to kayaking. In the 2022 New Year Honours, Carrington was promoted to Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
Ian Ferguson – 2 gold, 1 silver
Alan Thompson – 1 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze
Geoffrey Walker
Grant Bramwell
Paul MacDonald – 3 gold, 3 silver
Brent Clode
John MacDonald
Stephen Richards
Steven Ferguson
Ben Fouhy- 1 gold
Peter Duncan
Gavin Elmiger
Katie Pocock
Mike Walker
Leigh Barker
Paul Green
Maui Kjeldsen
Troy Burbidge
Scott Bicknell
Lisa Carrington – 15 gold, 5 silver, 2 bronze
Erin Taylor
Caitlin Regal (nee Ryan)- 1 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze
Aimee Fisher – 1 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze
Kayla Imrie- 2 silver, 1 bronze
Scott Martlew- 1 silver, 2 bronze
Jaimee Lovett
Alicia Hoskin -1 gold
Tara Vaughan -1 gold
Olivia Brett -1 gold
Danielle McKenzie
Corbin Hart
Peter Cowan – 1 silver
Halberg Awards
In 1984 Ian Ferguson was honoured as the Halberg Award recipient. In 2003 Ben Fouhy was New Zealand Sportsman of the Year and at the 2004 Halberg Awards Ian Ferguson received the SPARC Leadership award.
In 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2023 Lisa Carrington won the Sportswoman of the Year and in 2016, 2021 and 2023 she also won the Supreme Award. Coach Gordon Walker won Coach of the year for 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2023 and 2024.
In 2020, Lisa Carrington won Sportswoman of the Decade and Gordon Walker was awarded Coach of the Decade.
The NZ Women’s K4 of Lisa Carrington, Alicia Hoskin, Olivia Brett and Tara Vaughan won the 2025 Team of the Year.
New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame
In 2003 Ian Ferguson, Paul MacDonald and Alan Thompson were inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame
Lonsdale Cup
In 1979 and 1984 Ian Ferguson was awarded the New Zealand Olympic Committee’s Lonsdale Cup. In 1985 he and Paul MacDonald received the award. Paul MacDonald again received the award in 1987. In 2016 Lisa Carrington was the first female kayaker to receive this award, and she has subsequently received it in 2017, 2021 and 2023.
IOC Annual Trophy
In 1996 Ian Ferguson was awarded the IOC’s Centennial Olympic Games Trophy
