Paris Olympics: Jess Fox claims gold in Women’s Canoe Slalom K1
Australia’s golden girl, Jessica Fox, has claimed gold in the the Women’s Canoe Slalom K1 in stunning fashion at the Paris Olympics.
Having suffered a slight scare in her semi-final run earlier in the day, Jessica Fox outlasted seven subsequent paddlers to reign supreme in the K1.
Fox claimed bronze in this event in Tokyo, and she now adds K1 Olympic gold to her already glowing resume, which includes gold at Tokyo in the C1.
Her father, Richard Fox, an olympic athlete in his own right, was clearly impressed by what he saw during her breathtaking final run.
“Oh my goodness. Well, that’s a time. Look at this. She just holds it and has to fight back for the wave, and then pulls it around nice and tight on the inside,” Mr Fox said.
In the 12-woman final, Jess Fox, who paddled fifth, set an early, unbeatable pace with a flawless and swift run. Her strategic early slot likely played to her advantage, putting pressure on her competitors to deliver something exceptional.
As she sat in the gold medal position, the tension mounted. Cameras captured the moment tears welled up in Fox’s eyes, realising the magnitude of her achievement.
Challenges came from Kimberley Woods of Britain and Klaudia Zwolinska of Poland, who both made strong attempts to match Fox’s time. Yet, Fox held her ground.
In addition to mastering the course’s gates, Fox navigated an emotionally charged week. She bore the responsibility of carrying the Australian flag at the opening ceremony.
She was the $1.80 favourite with leading sports bookmakers prior to the event and justified those who took the short odds.
Fox will be back in action on Tuesday night (11pm AEST) as she defends her crown in the Women’s C1, where she is a $1.50 favourite to claim gold with Marantelli Bet.
