International Women’s Day 2022: Jess Fox on her Olympic gold and why it is for all women who fight for equality

She not only won gold — she smashed it, but Jess Fox wouldn’t have even had the chance, had she not fought to have her canoe event added to the Tokyo Olympic program.

Jess Fox has been the world’s best paddler on whitewater for years but it took an Olympic gold medal for the athlete herself to remotely consider she had earned the title of GOAT.

After eight individual world championships, a decade at the top of her sport — she not only won the C1 event — she smashed it, winning by more than three seconds.

But it was Jess herself — calling for respect and equality — that helped see her gold medal event added to the Olympic program.

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The Tokyo Olympics marked the first time the C1 women’s event was held, and Fox was a driver in having it added in the advocacy of gender parity.

“We fought really hard to get to this point in my sport as women, so I am really proud to be the representative of Australia in the first women’s C1 Olympic event, and to win the gold was amazing,” Fox said.

The culmination of Jess Fox’s fight was a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Picture: Alex Coppel

“It’s a big honour for all the women who fought for us to be in this position.

“For me it’s about basic respect and rights, there is no reason why we can’t do the same events as the men.

“We have a tradition that started in London where, at the Opening Ceremony, we get all the girls competing in paddling in front of the rings and we take a photo.

“To be part of the change that saw the event added to the Olympic program, and knowing the discrimination that some of the girls have overcome.

“From training without a coach, or access to World Cup races or funding … it really was extra special.”

For women, sport has become a world language, breaking down barriers and globally becoming a powerful tool for progress and development.

“I would love not just our sport but all women’s sport to be more visible,” Fox said.

“Women’s sport might be different but it doesn’t mean it is any less interesting or exciting to watch.

Jess Fox beams with her Tokyo gold, Picture: Adam Head

“What really fired me up last year was how many kids were watching the Olympics and then girls wanting to do the action sports like skateboarding or sport climbing.

“These were sports we hadn’t seen before and it’s the old saying of you can’t be what you can’t see.”

As a role model, and new member of the IOC’s Athletes’ Commission, Fox, 27, welcomed the responsibility of representing her sport and Olympians.

“I think about the athletes I looked up to, Anna Meares and Susie O’Neill, and the impact of meeting them,” she said.

“You never know the impact you can have you can have on someone.

“I’ll never knock someone back for an autograph, I want to make the five minutes the best interaction of their day.