Tokyo 2020 success will earn Jess Fox entry into elite Australian sporting club
IT was the mother - and father - of all achievements when Jessica Fox became the greatest slalom paddler of all time with a pair of gold medals at the recent world championships.
Women's sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Women's sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
SHE’S been rubbing shoulders with royalty this week but Jessica Fox could soon become sporting royalty herself.
It was the mother - and father - of all achievements when Fox beat her parents individual records to became the greatest slalom competitor of all time with a pair of gold medals at her recent world championships.
INCREDIBLE FEAT: By paddler Jessica Fox
LEGEND: Layne Beachley masters her own destiny
Now the 24-year-old is paddling towards membership into one of Australian sport’s most exclusive clubs.
Fox, who met the Duke and Duchess of Sussex at Admiralty House on Tuesday, has the chance to become only the 11th Australian in history to win two individual gold medals at the one Olympics at Tokyo 2020.
But it was news to Fox who admits she has no clue when she is close to setting new records and milestones - including breaking those of her parents.
“It wasn’t something we had ever really talked about or though about until it was bought up at the worlds,’’ said Fox.
“I don’t set myself goals to win records. I set myself goals to try and be the best in the world.’’
FINALE: Diamonds have fire in the belly
CRAZY: 100km/h on Sydney Harbour! Yes please
With Red Bull paddler Fox now able to race in both C1 and K1 boats in Tokyo, the two-time Olympian has the chance to translate her winning world title form into a piece of history.
Australia’s sporting annals bulge with multiple Olympic medallists, from Anna Meares becoming the first athlete to medal at four consecutive Olympics in individual events to Dawn Fraser winning three consecutive gold medals in 1956, 1960 and 1964 and Shirley Strickland winning a record athletics haul of seven medals.
But only 10 Australians have achieved the rare feat of winning two individual gold medals at the same Games in a whopping 122 years.
If Fox achieve her goal, her name will be alongside the greats of Australian sport - swimmers Ian Thorpe, Shane Gould, Fred Lane, Murray Rose, Michael Wenden and Stephanie Rice, cyclist Ryan Bayley, and athletics stars Edwin Flack, Marjorie Jackson and Betty Cuthbert.
While Fox is concentrating on the task at hand - not the history - she says she feels she has “major room for improvement’’ ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
“I have just reached a milestone with an amazing run of results but I feel I still have so much more to give,’’ Fox said. “That’s very exciting.’’
Fox’s two gold medals in Rio saw her total, including in team events, increase to nine which eclipsed the record of her mother and coach Myriam Fox-Jerusalmi as the most successful female canoe slalom paddler.
Fox’s father Richard was a five-time world champion canoeist for Britain with his daughter overtaking this mark with her sixth and then seventh gold medals in Rio on the course she raced for a bronze at the 2016 Olympics.
Australians who have won two individual golds at the same Olympics
1896 Athens: Edwin Flack, Athletics - 800m, 1500m
1900 Paris: Fred Lane (Swimming) - 200m Free, 200m Obstacle
1952 Helsinki: Marjorie Jackson (Athletics) - 100m, 200m
1956 Melbourne: Betty Cuthbert (Athletics) - 100m, 200m
1956 Melbourne: Murray Rose (Swimming) - 400m Free, 1500m Free
1968 Mexico City: Michael Wenden (Swimming) - 100m Free, 200m Free
1972 Munich: Shane Gould (Swimming) - 200m Free, 400m Free, 200m IM
2004 Athens: Ryan Bayley (Cycling) - Keirin, Individual Sprint
2004 Athens: Ian Thorpe (Swimming) - 200m Free, 400m Free
2008 Beijing: Stephanie Rice (Swimming) - 200m IM, 400m IM
It’s cricket like never before. Every Australia home Test, ODI, T20I Match LIVE and ad-break free. SIGN UP TODAY!