Jessica Fox: ‘Yes, I am competitive with my boyfriend’

In a revealing new interview, Olympic gold medallist Jessica Fox opens up about her relationship with her boyfriend and fellow canoeist Mathieu Biazizzo, her plans for Paris 2024 and how she really feels about gender equality in a male-dominated field

Jessica Fox has nine world championships and four Olympic medals in canoe/kayak to her name - but there is one honorific she is still uneasy about claiming. Actually, make that two.

On this Sunday’s episode of the Stellar podcast Something To Talk About, Fox says that being dubbed the GOAT (greatest of all time) leaves her perplexed.

“I still don’t really know how I feel about it,” Fox says. “I’m still in my career. I’m still trying to improve, tick off more goals and keep learning and growing.”

And, she confesses, she still can’t even bring herself to attach OAM (for Order of Australia Medal) to her name even though she was accorded that title following her gold and bronze achievements at the Tokyo Olympics held in 2021: “It’s something that I’m extremely proud of. I just haven’t gotten to that stage yet.”

Jessica Fox: ‘As long as my body’s holding up, my motivation is there and I still love it, I think I’ll keep pushing and keep going’ Picture: Damian Bennett

What the French-born Fox is ready to do is continue to be the voice of gender equity in slalom canoe racing.

“When I started paddling, there was only one event for the women and three for the men [in the Olympics],” she explains.

“We got to Tokyo and we were able to have two events for the men and two for the women. And we are seeing more and more female judges on our race courses, we’re seeing more female coaches, even though there’s still not that many.”

Should Fox qualify for Paris 2024, she will be 30 before the start of the opening ceremony and at her fourth Games.

“As long as my body’s holding up, my motivation is there and I still love it, I think I’ll keep pushing and keep going,” Fox says.

“Paris, for sure - and then who knows? There’s maybe [the 2028 Olympics in] LA, or maybe there’ll be an opportunity to see if I want to have a baby and come back. They’re conversations that we’ll definitely be having in the next few years, probably.

“But the fact that there’s a lot more support around female athletes, both mental health as well and physically and in that transition phase - that’s really important.”

Jessica Fox: ‘I always try to beat [boyfriend Mathieu Biazizzo], but it’s also about learning from each other’ Picture: Damian Bennett

While Fox is not sure if she can match the stamina of Czech Republic paddler Štěpánka Hilgertová - who retired from competition in 2017 at the age of 49 - she’s aware of the big picture.

One in which, in addition to her mum (Myriam Fox-Jerusalmi, herself a former Olympian), she is supported by her dad Richard Fox, who served as an Olympics commentator for Seven Network; her 25-year-old sister and fellow competitor, Noemie; and her partner, 31-year-old French slalom canoeist Mathieu Biazizzo.

About Biazizzo, Fox admits that “there’s always a bit of competition, especially if we’re training together. I always try to beat him, but it’s also about learning from each other.

“It is really special to be able to share that together. And also the fact that he understands what I’m going through and I know what he’s going through. It also helps that, you know, we go to bed early.”

As she continues her training in hopes of landing a spot to compete in Paris, Fox is also being coached by her mother, whose own backstory inspires Fox on levels both personal and professional.

Jessica Fox is a nine-time world champion and four-time Olympic medallist. Picture: Damian Bennett

“A few years ago, female athletes would have been forced into retirement based on, you know, maybe they wanted to start a family or they were getting too old and needed to transition into a new career,” Fox says.

“Traditionally, the male athletes haven’t had that problem and they’ve been able to compete a lot longer. My mum was probably one of the first women in the ’90s to have a baby – me – and then come back to elite competition and win a medal at the Atlanta Olympics.

“She’s just such an inspiration to me and someone who very much guides me throughout my whole career.”

Now, she adds, there are fellow athletes in her own sport - such as canoe sprinter Alyce Wood - who also serve as role models.

“She just had her little girl, Florence, [in June], and she’s hoping to qualify for Paris,” Fox points out.

“It’s amazing to see what women are capable of, and that journey, and [to] be able to follow it and be inspired by it. I’m not sure if I’ll be willing to do that, but we’ll see how we go.”

Jessica Fox stars on the cover of this Sunday’s Stellar. Picture: Damian Bennett

Until then, she is caring for her adopted greyhound Pink, and posing in a fashion-forward cover shoot with other elegant pooches from Greyhounds As Pets NSW for this Sunday’s edition of Stellar.

“Pink just kind of sat in the corner and watched everything from her little high horse,” Fox says with a laugh. “She was a bit too snobby for the shoot, I think. But yeah, it was great!”