Paris | Jess Fox had already snared the gold she really coveted – the kayak slalom, the medal she’d never won. Now, three days later, there was a chance to turn around and pull off the double, winning canoe slalom gold as well.

Nobody had ever won the double. And it wouldn’t be easy: most of her rivals in the canoe event on Wednesday weren’t coming off the back of the kayak exertions she’d just been through on Sunday. Nor were they coming down off the euphoric high of an earlier win. Was there really any chance she could do this?