Kiwi kayaker Aimee Fisher says all the tough times have been worth it as she prepares for her long-awaited return to the Olympic arena

She's part of a six-strong group of female sprint paddlers named to represent New Zealand in Paris later this year.

The 2016 Rio Games participant quit Canoe Racing New Zealand's high performance program in 2020 after a standoff with the national body - and then had to take the long road to the French capital after coming up short in domestic battles with Dame Lisa Carrington.

Fisher says the recent years have been full of ups and downs.



Fisher and Carrington will both race the K1 and K2, while Carrington is also part of the K4 combination.

Alicia Hoskin has been named for her second Olympics - with Olivia Brett, Tara Vaughan and Lucy Matehaere set for their Games debuts.