NZ’s very own golden girls

Lisa Carrington (left) and Alicia Hoskin celebrate after winning gold in the women's K2 500m...
Lisa Carrington (left) and Alicia Hoskin celebrate after winning gold in the women's K2 500m final at the Paris Olympics last night. PHOTO: REUTERS
Lisa Carrington and Alicia Hoskin last night claimed New Zealand’s sixth gold of the Paris Games, powering away from the field to win the women’s K2 500m by one and a-half boat lengths from Germany and Hungary.

The medal is Carrington’s seventh Olympic gold and Hoskin’s second. Carrington also has a bronze from the Tokyo Games,

Carrington and Hoskin got off to a flyer and led the German pair by almost a second at the halfway stage before winning by more than two seconds in 1min 37.28sec.

Earlier, Carrington and Hoskin teamed with Olivia Brett and Tara Vaughan in the K4 to clinch gold in an epic battle, eventually winning in 1min 32.2sec, just 0.42sec ahead of their German rivals.

Cyclist Ellesse Andrews became the province’s latest Olympic champion.

After being crowned world champion last year, Andrews powered home to win gold in the women’s keirin by 0.062sec from Hetty van de Wouw, of the Netherlands.

Andrews, who grew up in Wānaka and later moved to Christchurch, became the first New Zealand cyclist since Sarah Ulmer in 2004 to stand atop the Olympic podium.

Central Otago Wakatipu Cycling Club member Tony Hammington was in awe of Andrews’ race.

"To win that event on the front for three laps is unreal.

"Obviously [she] was confident enough to have a crack."

Mr Hammington backed Andrews, who earlier won silver in the team sprint, to go all out in the women’s sprint this weekend to pick up her third medal.

"Winning that event off the front, she’s in very good form having had some setbacks not that long ago.

New Zealand’s Ellesse Andrews celebrates her victory in the women’s keirin final on day 13 of the...
New Zealand’s Ellesse Andrews celebrates her victory in the women’s keirin final on day 13 of the Olympic Games in Paris. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES
"I’d be very confident she’s got the ability to do whatever she gets her sights set on."

Mount Aspiring College principal Nicola Jacobsen said it was "hugely exciting" for Andrews’ former school to see her success.

"It’s not every day that you wake up and learn that a former student of the college has achieved a sporting pinnacle such as winning a gold medal at the Olympics.

"The staff members who were here when she was at school are so immensely proud and there’s been a lot of sharing of the video, and statements about what an incredible achievement for this young woman."

Mount Aspiring is home to several top snow sports athletes and they, alongside Andrews, were brilliant role models for the rest of the community.

"Without the support of your whanau, your friends, your community, it’s a very difficult thing to achieve."

Erica Dawson and Micah Wilkinson won bronze in the nacra mixed sailing.