Olympic champs Jessica, Noemie Fox race at Oceania canoe slalom titles with new goals, lease on life

Jessica and Noemie Fox hit home waters for the first time since their Paris Olympic success after months of celebrations, honours, new opportunities and one very interesting conversation.

Slalom sisters Jessica and Noemie Fox have walked runways, visited the outback to deliver Christmas presents, inspired thousands of youngsters, bowled over sponsors and won just about every major award in sport since their three gold medal haul at the Paris Olympics.

The champion paddlers have embraced new opportunities in a break from racing which ends this weekend at the Oceania canoe slalom championships at Penrith whitewater stadium where they now have an island named after them.

But while their lives have been turned upside-down by new offers and experiences after their sister act in Paris, the pair are still having one unexpected conversation on repeat.

“We still have moments when we just look at each other and we are like, ‘did that really happen?’,’’ said Jessica, already the greatest paddler in her sport, ahead of the three-days of racing at Penrith.

Noemie and Jess Fox will be competing at home for the first time since they both won gold at the Olympic Games. Picture: Rohan Kelly

“Looking at each other and saying did we really win, what a surreal experience, I still can’t believe it.”

They also talk about doing it all over again at the LA Olympics in 2028, a Games the pair have committed to along with being back at their best - or better - for the world canoe slalom championships at Penrith in October.

Noemie Fox and Jess Fox at the Sport Australia Hall Of Fame Gala Dinner where they stole much of the spotlight.

“Obviously the goal would be to go again and then re-live those emotions and experiences,” Jessica said of the LA campaign.

“I remember post Olympics saying, oh, I kind of wish we didn’t have the world champs in 2025 because I would have liked to have a year off.

“Now I’m like, actually, it’s great the world champs are on this year because it sort of keeps us motivated and excited for this.’’

Australia's Noemie Fox (centre) celebrates winning gold with sister Jessica. Picture: John Walton/PA Images via Getty Images

For Jessica it will be a special event as the last time Penrith hosted a world championships back in 2005 it changed the life of a then 10-year-old watching from a hill with an arm broken in a gymnastics fall, inspiring her to follow her famous parents Richard and Myriam into the sport.

Jessica, who has been back training for three months while juggling her off-water commitments, said having the target of peaking at an October event has given her latitude to enjoy the spoils of being one of Australia’s most popular and successful athletes.

Australia's gold medallists and Jessica and Noemie Fox pose with their medals in Paris.

She has embraced a new career in television with Channel 9, revealing “dressing up as a ball kid” and walking the runway in Paris for L’Oreal as among her craziest and best moments since winning the K1 and C1 gold medals in Paris.

For younger sister Noemie, the kayak cross Olympic champion on debut, highlights have included being courtside at the Australian Open and travelling to far west Queensland with the Royal Australian Air Force to hand out presents to remote communities.

“To share my gold medal with people that you know actually watched and then said, you don’t understand, this never happens here, that’s probably the best experience I’ve had. That’s beautiful,” Noemie said.

Noemie Fox at the Australian Open. Picture: David Caird

Brushing shoulders with A-listers and celebrities in recent times, the Fox sisters will now be going head-to-head with the rock stars of their own sport at the Oceania championships starting Friday - including 12 of the 16 medallists from the Paris Olympics.

International include paddlers from Spain, Belgium, Columbia, Canada, France, Great Britain, New Zealand, Japan, Poland and USA with the Oceania championships doubling as a selection event for the Australian team racing the World Cup circuit and the worlds in Sydney from October 1-6.

Noemie Fox training at Penrith Whitewater Stadium ahead of the Oceania Championships. Picture: Rohan Kelly

At the same event a year ago Jessica was already selected to race in Paris but Noemie was considered a longshot of even making the team before being one of the last members named in June, just prior to the Games.

‘’I do a lot of talks now, sharing the message of resilience, building that mental resilience like you build your physical muscles, and working on you're your mental strength and goal setting.’’ Noemie said.

Jess Fox also hard in training. Picture: Rohan Kelly

“For me, that is kind of, you know, what my story is about. It’s about dreaming big, overcoming all the hurdles, impostor syndrome, self doubt, self confidence.

“Learning how to build that and achieve something that I never thought I would be capable of achieving.

“It’s good.’’

More from AMANDA LULHAM

Originally published as Olympic champs Jessica, Noemie Fox race at Oceania canoe slalom titles with new goals, lease on life