Jessica
Fox
Australia
·
Canoe Slalom
Date of birth | 11 June 1994 |
|---|---|
Place of birth | Marseille, France |
Age | 31 |
Nationality | Australia |
Career start | 2006 |
Disciplines | Canoe Slalom |
Kayaker Jessica Fox was born into canoeing royalty in Marseille, France on June 11, 1994. (Her parents are Richard Fox and Myriam Fox-Jerusalmi – both decorated canoeists from England and France, respectively.)
After moving to Australia at the age of four, Jess grew into a talented athlete and by 13 was beating competitors five years her senior.
Before long she was a five-time Junior World Champion and paddling in her first Games. After winning a silver medal in 2012 in London, Jess was instantly touted as the next international superstar.
Her performances at World Championship level have been little short of incredible, with no fewer than 10 gold medals to go with three silvers and two bronze medals, making Jess the most successful paddler, male or female, in World Championship history.
After adding a bronze medal in 2016 to her trophy room, Jess continued to excel as she racked up victory after victory in events around the world. She also used the delay of the 2020 Games to learn how to switch off from the sport when not competing. Having always loved animals, Jess finally decided to foster a greyhound and believes every athlete could benefit from a companion. She said: “It’s really nice to have those moments to just slow down and be present - and have a cuddle as well. It’s definitely helping with the stress of competitions.”
While preparing for action in Tokyo, Jess also became known for her creative home workouts she posted on social media. Instead of dumbbells, she performed squats, press-ups and shoulder presses using her two kayaks – each of which weighs more than 9kg. The preparation certainly paid dividends as Jess claimed an elusive gold medal in Tokyo.
Continuing to excel in every competition she enters, Jess won a record 14th World Championship title in 2023. In 2024, Jess defended her Games canoeing crown at the Paris Games. Not only did she win a gold medal in canoeing, but she also won a gold medal in kayaking – a double gold victory in Paris.