Kayak Fours, 500 metres, Women

Hungary was looking to win its fourth consecutive gold medal in the women’s K4 event, but the favorite was New Zealand, led by the formidable Lisa Carrington, as New Zealand had won the event at the 2023 World Championships. Although favored, New Zealand had not yet won an Olympic medal in this event.

The last eight gold medals in the event had been shared by Hungary (1992, 2012-2020) and Germany (1996-2008). Germany had won medals in K4 at seven consecutive Olympics, from 1992-2016, but placed only fifth in 2020.

Germany and Hungary were strong and would win silver and bronze, respectively, but they were no match for New Zealand. Led by Carrington and Alicia Hoskin, the Kiwi crew won by almost ½-a-second over the Germans.

This was the first women’s kayak final at Paris 2024, but Carrington and Hoskin would add another gold the next day in the K2-500, and Carrington would complete the trifecta the final day with gold in the kayak singles. Her three gold medals in sprint canoe at Paris 2024 matched her performance at Tokyo 2020, leaving her with nine Olympic medals and eight gold medals. Her eight gold medals equaled the record for the discipline set by German Birgit Fischer-Schmidt, and her nine medals trailed only Fischer-Schmidt’s 12 Olympic medals.