Good nutrition advice fuels Olympic dream

Hawke's Bay kayaker Aimee Fisher with her World Cup medals, which have boosted Kiwi hopes of qualifying for the Rio Olympics. Photo / Paul Taylor

Having the same nutritionist as two of the country's most successful female sports stars is a factor from a personal perspective for Hawke's Bay kayaker Aimee Fisher.

The multiple medallist from the first two World Cup regattas of the year, Fisher shares the same nutritionist as Olympic champion and multiple world champion kayaker Lisa Carrington and multiple Olympic and world champion shot putter Valerie Adams, Aucklander Jeni Pearce.

"I have learnt a lot off Jeni just as I did when I had Christel Dunshea-Mooij as my nutritionist last year. Trying to play things right in terms of nutrition and recovery is crucial," Fisher said during a visit home from her Auckland training base this week.

Quiz her further on the foundation for the success of New Zealand crews she paddled for in Portugal, where she won gold in the K4 500m and silver in the K2 500m, and Germany where she won bronze in the K2 200m, and Fisher is just as quick to reply.

"That has to be our coach Rene," she said, referring to Denmark-raised Rene Olsen who has coached the Kiwi crews she has been involved in since November last year.

"Rene has done such an amazing job. When we were overseas so many commentators and opposing coaches commented on the job he has done and the Kiwis doing something right. This year there has been so much improvement from everyone in the squad."

Naturally Fisher, 20, ranked the gold she won with Caitlyn Ryan, Jaimee Lovett and Kayla Imrie as the highlight of her trip.

"I've been at international regattas and heard the New Zealand anthem played for Lisa. But this was the first time it was being played for us ... it was pretty mean."

Although Karamu High School product Fisher and fellow members of the K4 crew did K2 events at the two regattas the K4 will be their priority at the August world championships in Italy. A top 10 finish there will see them qualify for next year's Rio Olympics.

"That gold in Portugal and the fifth placing in Germany has given us a good indication as to where we are. But you just never know ... everyone steps up for world champs and we know a couple of the big countries, Hungary and Russia, weren't in Portugal," Fisher said.

"While we're looking good there is still a lot of hard work to do."

Fisher, who has been kayaking for seven years, returned home on Wednesday. Although it is a rest week she must complete two paddles, a gym session and a run before returning to Auckland on Monday.

In the middle of July Olsen will take his crew to the Gold Coast for a training block.

"Rene has told us this will be our hardest stint of training since he has been with us. Last year before the world champs we lost too much training time because of the poor weather and lake conditions in Auckland. We won't have those issues on the Gold Coast and after that camp we come back to New Zealand for three days before going to Slovenia for a three-week build-up to the world champs," Fisher explained.

In addition to her training, which can often involve up to 140km each week, Fisher is in the first year of a three-year Sport and Recreation course at AUT. She will have exams before travelling to the Gold Coast.

"I did a bit of study for them while we were overseas. It's good to have something else to do in a day to take your mind away from kayaking ... last year everything was focused around kayaking and life wasn't as good as it has been up there this year."