Aimee Fisher of New Zealand in the women’s kayak single heat 500m, Paris 2024.
Photo: PHOTO PORT

New Zealand canoe sprinter Aimee Fisher is moving back to her hometown to start another pursuit of the Olympics.

Fisher has confirmed she will have another shot at Olympic glory but will now be based in Hawke’s Bay.

The 29-year-old has competed in two Olympics, Rio 2016 and Paris 2024, but has yet to win a medal.

Now she has her sights set on Los Angeles in 2028.

“One last ride. This will be my last Olympic cycle and this time I’ll be doing it with the village that raised me; I’ve moved back to Hawke’s Bay, where it all began,” she said on Instagram.

“Thank you to everyone who has become extended family in Auckland over the past 10 years. Forever grateful.”

Fisher was born in Rotorua and grew up in Hastings.

She was the 2021 K1 500 world champion and was expected to challenge Dame Lisa Carrington in Paris after beating her in a pair of warm-up events.

But she just missed out on the podium, finishing fourth with Carrington winning gold.

Fisher spoke to the International Canoeing Federation after the Super Cup in China in October.

“After Paris, my heart was so broken, you know, like I went there with big dreams of coming away as the fastest woman and it just wasn’t going to be on the day,” she said.

“So you know, like for a few weeks, I was grieving a lot and feeling pretty low, but I’ve had incredible support from my friends and family.

“I think it’s been a positive experience just to get back in the boat and have this event, you know, to race again, so I’m excited to get back into training and start building for LA.

“There’s a wish there, for the K1 500m. That’s it and I’ll start training full time again and maybe make a plan for LA.”

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.