Tokyo Olympics 2021: How Jess Fox recovered from Olympic heartbreak to become a champion

Nothing has been easy in Jess Fox’s career. But after the gut-wrenching relegation in Rio – she is now rightfully an Olympic champion.

Jess Fox with her gold medal. Picture: Adam Head

As a kid, Jess Fox wanted to go to the Olympics and win a gold medal in swimming.

And if that didn’t work, she would be one of Australia’s finest gymnasts.

That was the dream for the 10-year-old, who grew up in Glenmore Park at the foot of the Blue Mountains, in greater western Sydney.

That was, until she broke her arm, while landing awkwardly on a gymnastics crash mat.

Her physiotherapist told her to try kayaking because “it will strengthen your arms.”

“For sure, it was the catalyst for where I am today,’’ Fox said.

Where is Fox?

She’s on top of the world.

An Olympic champion with a gold medal around her neck after claiming the women’s CI (canoe) slalom event in Tokyo.

Finally.

Yes, finally.

Jessica Fox with her gold medal. Picture: Adam Head

She took the longest route possible, circumnavigating through every Olympic whitewater course since her games debut in London 2012, to now hold every coloured Olympic medal there is.

There’s the silver medal from London as a rookie with eyes wide-open eight years ago.

Then came the gut-wrenching relegation from gold to a bronze medal after narrowly clipping gate 22 at the Rio games in 2016.

The image of her father Richard, also former Olympic paddler, consoling his shattered daughter beside the course in Rio remains heartbreakingly vivid.

The K1 in Tokyo was to be her revenge mission, but again gate-penalties forced to settle for another bronze on Tuesday.

But with the inclusion of the women’s canoe event for the first time at an Olympic Games, Fox was able to continue her hunt for gold.

Jess Fox during her stunning run. Picture: Alex Coppel

She not only won the C1 event – she smashed the field, winning by just under four seconds to her nearest rival.

Tokyo was a culmination of a little girl’s dream and a young woman’s perseverance.

In a sport that struggles for profile and funding, Fox has paddled her way onto the front pages of magazines and newspapers across the country.

As she realised victory was hers, Fox raised her arms in exhilaration – and relief.

It was her win, but so too a win for her proud mother Myriam and father Richard, both former kayak champions.

Jessica Fox in the moments after her win. Picture: Getty Images

Richard somehow found the nerve to commentate on Channel Seven his daughter’s crowning moment.

“Oh my, that’s so good’’ Richard said as he fought back tears.

“I said to her, make your choices with confidence and control and she did.

“She kept breathing and she held it.

“It’s so beautiful. She’s such a good paddler … such a good person.’’

And – she’s an Olympic champion.

Originally published as Tokyo Olympics 2021: How Jess Fox recovered from Olympic heartbreak to become a champion