Event to celebrate Gisborne’s Olympic contributions

Dame Lisa Carrington and Alicia Hoskin celebrate winning gold in the K2 500m final at the Paris Olympics, one of two gold medals Hoskins won at the Games. Photo / Getty Images

Gisborne’s Olympic Games double gold medal-winner Alicia Hoskin, along with other locals involved in Paris, will be celebrated in a public function later this week.

Ilminster Intermediate - Hoskin’s old intermediate school - will host the gathering from 11.30am to 1.30pm on Thursday.

“We are holding this event to give the public the opportunity to acknowledge our Tairāwhiti representatives at the Games,” Whiti Ora Tairāwhiti’s Debbie Hutchings said. “For the public to be able to share in their successes, particularly when it comes to Alicia.”

“It’s not been since the 1984 Los Angeles Games that we have had an Olympic double gold medallist [sprint kayaker Alan Thompson] from our community.”

Hoskin won her golds in the K2 and K4 women kayak sprint events - the K2 alongside Dame Lisa Carrington (Ngāti Porou).

“We have extended an invitation to local schools from across the region and the whole community to attend this celebration,” Hutchings said.

“Those who attend will have the opportunity to interact with our Olympic representatives.”

As well as Alicia Hoskin, surfer Saffi Vetti will be there, along with Zach Ferkins (men’s kayak team reserve), Amber Church, who umpired hockey at the Games, and Diana Dobson, who was part of the media team.

“We hope to see a big turnout of people. At this stage we have around 800 school pupils coming, and we are sure the public will get behind it, too,” Hutchings said.

“It’s a significant event for our district.”