Jess Fox wins World Cup canoe gold day after missing another kayak final

She’s arguably the greatest paddler of all time but Jess Fox’s tumultuous World Cup campaign has continued with a missed final followed by a gold medal.

Jess Fox’s love affair with the canoe discipline has continued after a third consecutive World Cup gold in the event following her win in France at the weekend.

But the Olympic champ’s battle with the kayak this season continues after she again missed the K1 final in Pau, following a rare failure to make the medal run in Spain last weekend.

Just as she did in La Seu though, Fox made immediate amends for that blip by coming out and dominating with the single paddle, winning gold in the second World Cup event of a season that will culminate with the world championships at Penrith.

Jess Fox in action in the women's canoe final at the World Cup in Pau, France. Photo: Romain Bruneau/ICF

The 31-year-old, who celebrated her birthday earlier in the week, qualified fifth from the heats at the Pau-Pyrenees Whitewater Stadium and despite encountering a penalty after hitting a downstream gate early in her run, won comfortably.

“I didn’t expect it would be that good because I had a penalty,” Fox said.

“But it felt really powerful and I gave it everything.

“My arms are pounding right now, but really proud and so happy.”

Fox showed every bit of the maturity learnt over an international career that includes gold in the last two Olympic C1 events, to bounce back.

“It’s always a challenge to come back, to refocus and to find your energy after a disappointment mentally and physically,” she said.

“I’m really happy to be able to do that and always learning.”

Australia's Lucien Delfour in action at World Cup 2 in Pau, France. Photo: Romain Bruneau/ICF

Aussies Tristan Carter and Kaylen Bassett qualified for the men’s canoe final but both fell short of the podium, finishing ninth and 12th respectively.

Their efforts came after Lucien Delfour won bronze in the men’s kayak final on Saturday (AEST), his second successive World Cup podium in the event after also finishing third in the K1 in Spain.

“I am pretty happy again. I did not expect a medal,” he said.

“It was a tricky week of training. I struggled a bit. I was not happy, but I am glad that it worked out in the end.”

The 36-year-old missed Olympic selection last year but has had an outstanding start to the season and will be a man to watch when the season culminates in the world championships at the Penrith Whitewater Stadium in September.

Originally published as Jess Fox wins World Cup canoe gold day after missing another kayak final