M Travel CV: Olympian Noemie Fox shares her travel highlights
This Aussie Olympian has travelled the world and is “ops and logistics expert” on family trips.
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When it comes to travel, Olympic slalom canoeist Noemie Fox is a champion organiser. This is her Travel CV:
I got my first passport when…
I was 18 months old when we moved from France to Australia for the Sydney 2000 Olympics as my dad (Olympian Richard Fox) got a job as head coach of the Australian canoe slalom team. We’ve gone back to France every year since – I feel at home there.
My first holiday memory is…
A Fiji kids’ club organised by the local women in 2001. My sister Jess and I wore matching dresses and learnt the Meke dance.
I’ve been to…
Twenty-seven countries.
My favourite place in Australia is…
The Blue Mountains where I live. I’ll take off from my front doorstep to hike, trail run, camp, picnic or watch sunrise or sunset. I still feel like I’ve only scratched the surface.
The place I’d love to visit in Australia is…
Uluru, again. Nothing prepared me for how magical it is. I’m dying to go back and learn more about the land and the communities.
The place I’d rather be right now is…
Paris. The sparkling lights of the Eiffel Tower at night are so magical, and each time I visit I see and discover something new in the city. I can’t wait for the Olympic Games in July – whether I’m competing for Australia or watching the action, it’s going to feel like a home Olympics to me. I’ll be cheering for the green and gold though.
The place I’ve visited most often is…
Marseilles, in the south of France. My grandmother, who is 88 years old, lives there. It’s a big city but feels like a small fishing town, and is where the Olympic sailing sports and some football matches will be held.
My holidays are mostly devoted to…
Walking in the outdoors. Hiking in the stunning Dolomites mountain range in Italy last year with a friend was incredible. Venice was also really special – I organised a trip there with my mum, sister and nan last year for Nan’s 88th birthday.
The souvenir I always buy is…
Artwork. I bought a beautiful oil painting of the Venice canals recently. The trouble is I travel with my boat and a lot of gear so there isn’t a lot of space for artworks, so I always try to find a watercolour artwork postcard to take home – I plan to make a collage out of them one day.
The place that most surprised me was…
New Delhi. My partner and I had an 18-hour layover there so we got visas and left the airport. It was chaos in its purest form. We met a tuk tuk driver outside our hotel and he gave us a guided tour around some of the city, inducing the biggest sense of culture shock I’ve had – the density, the pollution and the traffic. A highlight was seeing the Red Fort in Delhi and driving through Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi. It’s made me want to take advantage of layovers more often.
The sickest I’ve been on holiday was...
In Prague. I tend to get a bit of gastro when I go there for a world ranking race every year due to the water quality.
The advice I’d give to young travellers is…
Wear a mask on the plane. I do, so I can hit the ground running when I arrive without spending the first few days sick.
The worst thing that’s happened to me while travelling…
The man behind me projectile vomiting into the aisle of the plane, two hours into a 14-hour flight from Doha to Sydney.
The weirdest thing I’ve eaten while travelling was...
Crocodile on a Queensland tour when I was five years old. I turned vegetarian soon after. As much as I want to be adventurous and try local foods when travelling, as an athlete, I also have to be mindful of not eating something that could upset my stomach and compromise performance.
The best hotel I’ve ever stayed in is…
The Hilton in Sydney. I spent 14 days there in quarantine during Covid. It had a beautiful view and the food was incredible – they put so much effort into making us feel cared for in a sad and strange time. I’ve been through two hotel quarantines and don’t like spending much time in hotels anymore.
My go-to dish for room service is…
Hot chips – it’s a comfort food.
Travel has taught me...
Patience, curiosity and kindness. I have so much kit to travel with and smiling and manners at the travel desk goes a long way. There’s always a bit of anxiety at check-in, like, “Please take my boat! And please don’t crush it!”
The Olympic Games Paris 2024 will screen live and free from July 26 to August 11 on 9 and 9Now.
How many flights have you missed?
Zero. My dad calls me the family’s “ops and logistics” expert. I’m always really organised.
Passports/visas/wallets/luggage lost?
A few wallets.
Who is your favourite travel companion?
Friends who match my energy and are happy to spend a solid hour debriefing and looking through photos and memories from the day.
Flight, cruise, car or train?
Train – you get the best views and the comfiest travel. Plus no turbulence.
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Originally published as M Travel CV: Olympian Noemie Fox shares her travel highlights
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