Dame Lisa Carrington welcomes first baby

New Zealand's most decorated Olympian has announced the arrival of her first child, sharing a heartfelt message with fans.

Dame Lisa Carrington has shared some exciting personal news, revealing she and husband Michael "Bucky" Buck have welcomed their first child together.

The Olympic kayak champion announced the arrival of their daughter on social media, posting a video set to Six60's Rivers alongside a simple but heartfelt message.

"Our beautiful baby girl is here," Dame Lisa wrote.

"We are completely in love."

The 37-year-old is one of New Zealand's greatest sporting icons, holding the record as our most successful Olympian. Across four Olympic Games, she has claimed eight gold medals, including standout performances in both Tokyo and Paris.

Earlier this year, Dame Lisa announced she was expecting her first child, describing the experience as a "real learning curve".

At the time, she said she felt "very lucky and very excited" about what was ahead as she prepared for this new chapter of life.

The arrival of her daughter also means some time away from international competition. Dame Lisa had already confirmed she would not compete at this year's world championships, but has previously said her sights remain firmly set on the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

For now though, it looks like the champion paddler has a very different adventure keeping her busy.

Fans and fellow athletes have flooded social media with congratulations as Dame Lisa and her family celebrate their newest arrival.

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