Olympic gold medallist sisters Jess and Noemie Fox make pilgrimage to sacred ancient site at Olympia

Taking a rare break, Australia’s adored siblings Jess and Noemie Fox have paid homage to the Olympic gods with a special visit to the ancient home of the Games. See the pictures inside.

Trailblazers themselves, Australian Olympic flag-bearer Jess Fox and her sister Noemie have taken an emotional trip to the ancient home of the Olympic Games after playing a pivotal role in the historic election of the first female president to the biggest job in world sport.

Taking a rare break from their preparations ahead of this year’s world championships in Penrith in October, Australia’s adored Olympic siblings celebrated Kirsty Coventry’s ascent to the highest role in world sport by paying homage to the Olympic gods.

Taking along their gold medals they won in Paris last year, Jess and Noemie went on a pilgrimage to Olympia in Greece, the sacred home of the ancient Olympics, and were blown away by the experience.

“It was pretty special to share that together,” Jess told this masthead.

“I was over there for the IOC (International Olympic Committee) session, and was allowed to take a guest so I asked Noemie to come with me.

Sisters Noemie (L) and Jess Fox display their Olympic medals on the sacred trip. Picture: Instagram

The Paris Olympic gold medals on display. Picture: Instagram

“I wasn’t planning to take a medal but I’d actually come from Melbourne and had a medal with me because I’d been at an event where I needed one, so I was like, ‘oh well, let me bring this to the Olympic gods and thank them.”

Already legends in canoe and kayak, the Fox sisters famously both won gold medals in canoe and kayak in Paris last year after Jess carried the flag at the opening ceremony on the River Seine.

They are still going as strong as ever and in training for this year’s world championships near their family home in western Sydney, with Jess now dipping her toe into sport’s administration after being elected to the IOC Athletes Commission.

As one of just two Australians with full voting rights on the IOC, Jess’ introduction to the inner workings of the IOC was being part of the recent annual session in Greece, to choose the next president.

The Fox sisters visited where the roots of the Olympic movement were formed.

The pair were blown away by the history of the sacred site.

It turned out to be a historic occasion with Zimbabwean swimmer Kirsty Coventry elected as the first female and first African president in 130 years.

“It was my first session so it already felt like being thrown into the deep end,” Jess said.

“It can feel like an intimidating room in a way, being in there and sitting with that group, so it was all about the learning experience as well for me but it was also very exciting.

“The election of a new president, which doesn’t happen very often at all, was monumental and to be in that room when Kirsty was elected was pretty incredible.

“I didn’t realise how much it might affect me and move me in a way, but it was very powerful and an incredible moment for the Olympic movement and obviously historical as the first female president, first African president.

“Everyone that I was with felt that same energy and it was something really special that we were a part of so I had a great time and learned a lot.”

Newly-elected president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Kirsty Coventry. Picture: AFP

After being elected to an initial term of eight years, starting from mid June, Coventry will preside over the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.

The 41-year-old made her Olympic debut at Sydney in 2000, and was inspired to stay involved after her athletic career ended after witnessing Cathy Freeman light the flame at the Opening Ceremony.

Coventry’s election as president is a gamechanger for global sport and has repercussions for Australia, which has been slow in promoting women to leadership roles.

The Australian Olympic Committee has never elected a female president but at 32, Fox is among a number of women who have been identified as potential future leaders, though she says her priority for now is still on competing.

“When you’re an athlete, you kind of have the blinkers on and don’t really know everything that goes on behind the scenes to put on the greatest show in the world,” she said

Jess Fox (left) is among a number of women identified as a potential future AOC leader. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“So all of these are really incredible experiences and learning opportunities for me and a way for me to give back and contribute as a current athlete.

“For sure I’ll look to continue that and be involved in that but I haven’t really got a clear set plan on what life after sport will be but I think sport will always be part of that so yeah we’ll see but I definitely don’t see myself being president of the IOC.”

With the next Olympics in Los Angeles three years away, the next major goal for both Jess and Noemie is the ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships, taking place at Penrith Whitewater Stadium from September 29 to October 4.

It is a massive event and while the spotlight will naturally be on the local sister act Jess says she’s not feeling any extra pressure.

“It’s going to be exciting.” she said. “We’re heading overseas in a couple of weeks for some World Cup events but I’ll come home for winter to rain on the course and hopefully get some home advantage.

“I’ve been in a really hard block of training at the moment but I’m really looking forward to what’s ahead this year.”

Before heading overseas, Fox will have to cast more votes at the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) annual general meeting in Sydney on Saturday.

While Ian Chesterman is a certainty to be re-elected as AOC President with no-one running against him, the election of the board is shaping up as an intriguing ballot with 13 nominees vying for seven spots.

Originally published as Olympic gold medallist sisters Jess and Noemie Fox make pilgrimage to sacred ancient site at Olympia