Penrith’s champ puts the world on notice

JESS Fox sent a statement to the canoe slalom world with a scintillating winning double at the Australian Open.

Jess Fox in the K1 Women's final at Penrith Whitewater Stadium. Picture: Peter Kelly

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JESS Fox sent a statement to the canoe slalom world with a scintillating winning double at the Australian Open last weekend at Penrith Whitewater Stadium.

Fox took out the C1 and K1 events with ease as she defeated her sister Noemie in the C1 final by 9.63 seconds and world champion Katerina Kudejova in the K1 final by six seconds despite receiving a two second time penalty.

The two-time Olympic medallist was in career-best form against a crack field of paddlers.

“I didn’t want to be conservative,” Fox said.

“This was a good field. There was a lot at stake, so took some risks but they were controlled risks and they ended up being some of the best races of my career.”

Jess Fox in the K1 Women's final.

Fox was happy to see her sister chasing her.

“We train together, and we support each other on the water. I think her improving is only going to be better for me as well,” she said.

Fox wasn’t getting too far ahead of herself however, acknowledging that athletes from other nations were at different stages of their preparations ahead of the world championships in France in October.

“Some of them probably weren’t as fired up as me but it was still a good indicator of where we’re all at.”