Exclusive: Richard Fox on how he blocks out his emotions when calling daughter Jess Fox’s events

Jess Fox has finally broken her Olympic gold medal hoodoo — and her dad Richard was right in the thick of it. Here’s what his view’s like from the commentary box.

Calling from the commentary booth is not how I expected to be following Jess at the Tokyo Olympics.

I was planning to be there on the ground, supporting the team and watching from the stands.

Being on the Seven commentary team is the next best thing.

It is like racing; you’ve got to be prepared and then adapt to what’s in front of you.

It takes you into the moment and keeps the mind busy.

I’m following every stroke and feeling every wave.

Of course, when Jess is racing, it’s much more personal and there is more emotion attached to the outcome.

I know what the Olympics and the race for Gold means to her.

I can’t detach from that, and I do feel it before the race and after.

During the run, I try to leave the emotion aside, to be objective and focus on the line Jess or any other athlete is taking, their form and the way they manage the difficult moves.

As much as we’d like to know it is all going to go well, there can be no certainty about the outcome until the race is run.

Jess Fox with her biggest supporters, mum Myriam and dad Richard.

No matter who you are coming into the race, there is no such thing as a done deal.

At the Olympics, the biggest stage of all, the challenge facing a favourite in canoe slalom is enormous.

There is the scoreboard to chase, the 25 gates to pass through cleanly while navigating through foaming white water.

While each athlete does the same course, they don’t necessarily take the same line and there are always some ups and downs along the way.

Richard Fox consoles daughter Jess Fox at the 2012 London Olympics.

Richard Fox on the water.

There is really no such thing as a perfect run.

I’ve loved commentating the races at the Games.

We’ve seen some great racing so far, which has showcased our athletes and the sport.

Like the racing itself, the commentary doesn’t always go to plan and at times it can be intense.

Fortunately, the lead commentator, Dave Culbert, is a pro and makes it easy for me.

While the scoreboard can tell a truth about a moment, it doesn’t tell the whole story about the person and what they bring to the sport and others.

That’s what makes sport at these Olympics so special – it is about a journey.

To be continued …

Jessica Fox’s medal hopes are still on track. Picture: AFP

Jess in first gear as C1 Final looms

—Brianna Travers

Jess Fox has cruised into the C1 final in fifth place, taking a more cautious approach than she did in the K1.

Fox said the change of event meant she had to get a feel for things today in the heats.

“It was good to get out there, changing boats, in a kneeling position with different paddles, I had to get a feel for it but I felt good,” she said.

Of the event debuting on the Olympic calendar, she said it was a special moment.

“It is a powerful moment for us and our sport,” Fox told News Corp Australia. “We are thinking of those women who didn’t get that opportunity in the past who fought for us to be here today, and all the little girls who will get the chance in the future. It is very special.”

Mallory Franklin from Great Britain finished in first place.

The semi-finals and final are on Thursday.

Lucien Delfour is right in the thick of the medal chances. Picture: Getty Images

Fox won’t be our only medal hope in the canoe slalom, with Sydney’s Lucien Delfour going into the men’s semi-finals in third rank.

The Penrith paddler put in two solid performances in the today’s heats, and is only 0.98 behind the current leader Hannes Aignner, from Germany.

The fast-paced heats puts Delfour, 32, on track to beat his disappointing 17th placing at the Rio games.

“I’m pretty happy with today, it felt really good on the water during the first run, I put down a good time,” he said.

“Second run was also good, probably not as smooth but still happy with it.”

He said he would try and put the pressure of being a medal contender to one side.

“I try not to think about the medal,” he said.

“The last few days have been daunting, I have felt the pressure building up.

“The course is quite tricky, I will have to focus. Of course I want to get on the podium but completing the course without penalties is going to be a pretty big challenge for me.”

He will compete in the semi-final on Thursday, hoping for a finals berth on Friday.

Originally published as Exclusive: Richard Fox on how he blocks out his emotions when calling daughter Jess Fox’s events