Jessica Fox’s high school claims three Olympians at Rio
AUSTRALIAN Olympians, rower Ian Borrows, paddler Jessica Fox and shooter Jennifer Hens, all attended the same western Sydney high school and the cheering for them is loud.
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BLAXLAND High’s students and teachers are cheering louder than most during the Olympics, as three former students wear the green and gold in Rio.
Rower Ian Borrows, paddler Jessica Fox and shooter Jennifer Hens all attended the school, with Fox the last to graduate, in 2011.
“As a school, it’s something we are really proud of,” principal and teacher Nikki Tunica said.
“It is a tribute to the fact our school supports the kids in whatever endeavour they want to go in, so they feel good about pursuing their dreams.”
Prior to the opening ceremony, the school wished the trio good luck on its entrance noticeboard.
The message read “going for gold in Rio” before naming the three Olympians.
While Hens’ time in the competition has come to an end, Borrows and Fox made it through to the semi-finals.
Borrows sadly missed out on the Olympic final on Wednesday by just 0.09 of a second. Fox will paddle again on Friday morning.
Another past student and rower, Kate Murdoch, will take on the Paralympics.
“We have not got a title; we aren’t a sports high school or anything like that, so it is just remarkable,” Ms Tunica said.
Blaxland High’s sports co-ordinator Peter Henderson told the Penrith Press it was great to have the former students represent at such a high level.
“It shows the kids here they can achieve too, just looking up to these people,” Mr Henderson said, adding current pupils have been achieving solid Sydney West and NSW results.
At just 13, Year 7 student Maeve Goehner has already represented at a national level for track and field and cross country.
Maeve said it was “pretty cool” to see the Olympians excel, and to know the school encouraged them along the way.
“It feels good because maybe one day I might get to the Olympics.”
The tight-knit community has praised the Olympians for their ongoing hard work and their families for supporting them, PDHPE teacher Leanne Talbot said.
Ms Talbot took Fox through the HSC, when the “all-rounder” juggled training, competition and her studies. But Fox managed to top the state in the subject.
Ms Talbot said it was a combination of Fox’s dedication and the choice of questions in the final exam.
“Imagine her doing ‘improving performance’ which is one of the options.
“(When) a lot of other students were trying to learn it from a theory point of view, Jess was actually living it,” she said.
Another teacher who spoke highly of the athlete was David Leishman, her music and voice teacher.
Mr Leishman said: “Her humility set her apart.”
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