Dame Lisa Carrington welcomes first child
Monday 5 October 2026 · 3 outlets · 3 reports · updated 
Olympic kayaker Dame Lisa Carrington and her husband, Michael Buck, have welcomed a baby girl. The 37-year-old athlete announced the birth of her first child via social media.
Key facts
4 facts
- Dame Lisa Carrington welcomed a baby girl on 5 October 2026
- Carrington has won eight Olympic gold medals and one silver medal
- The athlete's competitive goal is the LA 2028 Olympic Games
- Carrington married Michael Buck in 2022
The full story
1 min read · 3 outlets
Olympic kayaker Dame Lisa Carrington has announced the birth of her first child, a daughter. The 37-year-old shared the news via a social media post featuring a video of the newborn's feet and the song Rivers by Six60. Carrington and her husband, Michael 'Bucky' Buck, stated they are "completely in love".
The announcement follows Carrington's pregnancy reveal in April, when she described the experience as a "real learning curve". She had previously withdrawn from this year's world championships due to the pregnancy. Despite the new arrival, Carrington maintains that the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games remain her competitive target.
Carrington is New Zealand's most decorated Olympian, having won nine medals across four Games. Her achievements include eight gold medals and one silver medal. Her gold medal wins occurred in London in 2012, Rio de Janeiro in 2016, Tokyo, and Paris in 2024.
Where reports differ
- One report specifies Carrington's total medal count as nine, including a bronze, while another focuses on her eight gold and one silver medals
Compiled from reports by 1News, Stuff and NZ Herald.