Paddle slalom great Jess Fox embracing 100 days until the world championships in Penrith

Jess Fox concedes her Olympic success could ‘hover like a cloud’ over her ahead of a home world championships, but the paddle slalom great is determined to embrace the pressure and enjoy a rare chance to compete on her turf.

Jess Fox concedes her Olympic success could “hover like a cloud” over her ahead of a home world championships but the paddle slalom great is determined to embrace the pressure and enjoy a rare chance to compete on her turf.

In a wide-ranging interview to mark 100 days to go until the world slalom championships at the Sydney Whitewater Stadium in Penrith, Fox confirmed her intention to paddle on to the Los Angeles Games and the challenges in returning to the World Cup circuit following an incredible showing at last year’s Olympics.

Fox, who was also Australia’s opening ceremony flag bearer at the Games, won two gold medals in Paris, defending her canoe title and winning a long-cherished kayak gold, with younger sister Noemie completing a family treble when she took out the only other women’s even in the kayak cross.

There are 100 days until the world slalom championships in Jess Fox’s hometown of Penrith.

“It was interesting for me to come into this preparation, coming into the World Cup, because obviously (it was a) busy period off the back of the Olympics, and I wanted to maximise that,” Fox said.

“I said, yes to everything and also took time to reflect and enjoy and see whether I wanted to continue, you know, ask myself all those questions.

“But it was pretty clear for me that I did. And obviously with world champs (in Penrith) this year, that was the big goal and that’s the event we’re peaking for.”

Fox knows there will be massive pressure, especially in front of a home crowd expecting more gold from their Olympic darling.

“Paris was its own event and it was magical in every way, went perfectly, and that was a very successful campaign, and fantastic to perform in that way,” she said.

“And to know that it was within me and that I was capable of that, I think was really important and satisfying.

Fox in action in the women's canoe final at the World Cup in Pau, France. Photo: Romain Bruneau/ICF

“Now looking forward, obviously, you’re always going to have that expectation and target on your back – you’re the reigning Olympic champion, reigning world champion in the kayak – and that hovers there, that’s like a cloud if you let it be.

“But it’s also an amazing opportunity coming into a world champs. It’s a fresh post-Olympics clean slate. Everyone’s hungry for that race and just because you’re world number one or just because you’re the reigning champion doesn’t mean it’s given.

“A world championship at home is going to feel very much like an Olympics in terms of the pressure and the expectation but I think we’ll be ready.”

While some of Australia’s swimmers have recently spoken about the lows they experienced off the back of the Olympics, Fox said she had been able to ride the high for an extended period.

Fox had a wide range of blue chip sponsors ahead of the Games and capitalised on her success in what for Olympic athletes can be a crucial post-Games window, saying “yes” to plenty of opportunities that can’t be worked into a full training and competition schedule.

But she also got herself back into competition relatively quickly, competing at the World Cup final last year in a “massive struggle” that may actually have underlined what is driving her to push on.

Fox with her sister Noemie. Picture: Jack GUEZ / AFP

“It was a massive struggle because we were going from such a high in front of 15,000 spectators to a smaller scale event and it felt really small and harder to motivate myself,” she said.

“But I remember joking with someone afterwards and saying, I remember just thinking, ‘I’m not that motivated, but I don’t want anyone else to win’.”

That attitude has helped Fox commit to all five World Cup rounds this season ahead of the world championships and while she has made a couple of rare errors in the kayak, missing the finals in both France and Spain, she has also picked up gold in the canoe in both rounds and made the podium in the kayak cross in Pau.

Fox is still riding the Olympic high. Picture: Francois Nel/Getty Images

“That post-Games effect is different for everyone and I think for me, it was a high for a long time,” Fox said.

“I rode that high for a while – at times I feel like I’m still riding it – but there’s definitely been moments where you feel a bit deflated, where you feel a little bit of lack of motivation, more tired, less motivated.

“But I think that’s where I’ve always tried to have the perspective, or at least something else, looking forward.

“Post Tokyo, I felt like I was able to shift my focus pretty quickly to a new goal. And post Paris, these (Penrith) world champs has been that dangling carrot that’s gotten me back into it.”

Originally published as Paddle slalom great Jess Fox embracing 100 days until the world championships in Penrith