Rio Olympics 2016: Jessica Fox creates splash with two world canoe slalom titles

JESSICA Fox decided to buck the trend of most of her Olympic rivals to race three weeks before the Games and now has two world titles to show for her efforts.

Jessica Fox in action at the Krakow world titles. Photo credit: Balint Vekassy

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JESSICA Fox decided to buck the trend of most of her Olympic rivals to race three weeks before the Games and now has two world titles to show for her efforts.

Fox told The Daily Telegraph she wanted to replicate her exact lead-up to the London Olympics where she won a silver medal ahead of the Rio Games.

“Why change somethign that works,’’ Fox said before leaving for the event in Krakow.

Her decision on Monday reaped Fox a pair of confidence-boosting world crowns in both the K1 boat she will race in Rio and the C1 at the world under 23 canoe slalom championships.

In the all-important K1, Fox finished more than three seconds ahead of her nearest rival for her third straight crown in the boat.

Jessica Fox now heading to Rio after winning two world titles in Poland.

Earlier she won her C1 world title, also by more than three seconds.

“I know a lot of athletes will have had a month and a half without racing, so for me I think this was a good test and a good hitout,’’ said the Penrith paddler who believes her lead-up to Beijing was a major factor in her winning a silver medal as a teenager.

“I know the speed is there and the technique is there, so now it’s just about fine tuning.”

The two crowns bought to 10 Fox’s haul from junior and under 23 world championships.

Fox said earlier this year she had decided to take a different road to the Games than her rivals because the pressure at world championships was similar to that at the Games.

Jessica Fox is one of Australia’s big medal chances in Rio. ,

“The World Cups were really good preparation for the Olympics, but this was different,” she said.

“It’s a Championship, there was more pressure, it’s a longer racing week. It’s closer to the Olympics, so that’s why I wanted to race.’’

Fox’s younger sister, Noemie, attracted a 50-second penalty for missing a gate and finished 10th in the K1 final.

But in a good sign for the future, Noemie Fox also made the final of the C1 on Saturday, finishing seventh.