Australia’s Jess Fox has been chosen to represent her country in the 2024 Summer Olympics, where she will defend her Olympic canoe slalom C1 title. This will be Fox’s fourth time competing in the Games. The 29-year-old was born in Marseille to an Olympic paddling couple, with her mother being French and her father British. However, she moved to Australia at a young age.
Her selection was confirmed due to her impressive performance in this season’s World Cup and World Championships. When she competes at Vaires-sur-Marne near Paris, she will make history as the first Australian to participate in four Olympics in canoe slalom.
In a press release, Fox expressed her excitement about being selected for her fourth Olympic Games. She also highlighted the significance of having a “French connection” this time, as her family and friends in France will be able to witness the event live. Additionally, qualifying early gives her more flexibility in her training leading up to the Games.
With 10 individual world titles, Fox is the most decorated female paddler in history. She won her first Olympic gold in Tokyo in 2021, and she also secured a bronze medal in the single kayak (K1) event. In the upcoming Olympics, she will compete in both the C1 and K1 events.
Fox has already achieved success in previous Games. In 2012, she won a silver medal in the K1 event in London, and in 2016, she earned a bronze medal in the same event at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
This season, Fox claimed the overall World Cup titles in both C1 and K1. She also won gold in the K1 event and bronze in the C1 event at the World Championships in London in September.
Anna Meares, the Chef de Mission for the Paris Games, commended Fox’s remarkable achievement of being selected for four Olympic teams. Meares emphasized Fox’s dedication and hard work, as well as her ability to continually excel in her sport over more than a decade.
Nick Mulvenney reported on this story with editing by [insert name].
